Vale Foodbank hit by drop in donations

Star it Here 21/05/2024

3 minutes read

THE local organiser for the Vale Foodbank says it has been hit by a fall in donations – but with demand rising at the same time.

As a result, Graham Loveluck-Edwards is championing a Trussel Trust campaign called “Guarantee Our Essentials”. In the short term, this means asking people, schools, churches, and businesses who do not already donate to consider donating what they can to help Foodbank through this difficult period.

**| Aaron Goddard says that donations have “fallen off a cliff”.**

He said: “It was announced on Friday last week that the UK is no longer in recession. As much as this is good news for the national economy, it does not mean that we are seeing any reductions in food prices, nor in the cost of rent.

“Volunteers at all eight foodbank centres in the Vale tell us that much has changed recently. The soaring cost of fuel, food and rents have led to more working people needing to turn to foodbanks for support. Those reliant on welfare benefits are also finding that their Universal Credit payments are not keeping pace with the rises in the cost of living.

“In the fiscal year 2022-23, the total number of food parcels issued in the Vale was 6,356. A record high. In the fiscal year 2023-24 that figure rose by over 29% to 8,662. To put that number into context, it is more than the entire population of Dinas Powys and more than double the population of Cowbridge.”

He continued: “This surge in demand coincides with a drop-off in donations. In the 2022-23 fiscal year, 89,338.74 Kgs of food were donated to the foodbank. In the 2023-24 fiscal year that number has fallen to 75,925.12 Kgs. More than a 15% drop.”

‘One tin of meat and one tin of soup’

Graham Atkins, who volunteers at the Vale distribution warehouse, said: “Last week, we were down to one tin of meat and one tin of soup.”

Aaron Goddard, warehouse manager added: “People are struggling and it’s hitting us from all sides. The numbers who need our help is going through the roof, but donations have fallen off a cliff.”

Graham Loveluck-Edwards added: “The Vale Council has given vital financial support this year. But like every local authority in the UK, it is having to make hard decisions about future spending. So, no one takes it for granted that this money will always be there.

“Inadequate social security is the main driver of foodbank use in the Vale and across the UK. The Joseph Rowntree Foundation has calculated that the base line figure a single adult needs to afford the essentials in the UK is £120 per week. Basic Universal Credit in the UK is £91 per week. That shortfall is driving more and more people to the foodbanks and that situation is unsustainable.

“We need the UK government to guarantee that everyone will receive enough to afford the essentials in life. Here at the Vale Foodbank, we would love to be out of a job. We do not want the UK to be a place where foodbanks are needed. But we are more desperately needed now than ever.”

If you would like to donate food to the Vale Foodbank, here are the items they are most desperately in need of: UHT fruit juice, Tinned ham/corned beef, Tinned fruit, Coffee, Tuna, Rice pudding, Tinned vegetables, Tinned soup, Tinned spaghetti, Jars of pasta sauce, Savoury snacks, Peanut butter, Jam, Instant mash, Tinned potatoes, Deodorant and Shampoo.

These are drop off points throughout the county where these can be left and collected by volunteers:

Barry: Asda, Lidl, Morrisons, Tesco, One Stop, and Aldi Culverhouse Cross. Also, at Snap Fitness and the Foodbank warehouse in Tennyson Road, Barry, CF62 9TN. Dinas Powys: The Library and Tesco Express. Llantwit Major: The Co Op and Bethel Baptist Church. Cowbridge: Waitrose. Rhoose: St Peters Church. Penarth: Tesco.

If any societies, institutions, schools, or businesses would like to set up regular financial giving, please email .