HARLOW Foodbank joined Trussell food banks from all four nations of the UK, as well as people with who have needed food banks, anti-poverty charities and celebrities Levi Roots and Ladbaby, outside Westminster on Wednesday 20th November, to unveil a bold new newspaper, The Hardship Times.

The event gave a powerful platform to often-hidden stories as Parliament Square was transformed into a hub of activity. Staff and volunteers from Harlow Foodbank added their voices to hundreds of others calling on the UK government to take urgent action on hardship.

Over the past year Harlow Foodbank hosted events in our local community, gathering these messages and adding the voices of Harlow to a collection of over 1,000 stories from food bank staff and volunteers, MPs, celebrities and people with lived experience of hardship across the UK. Many here added their stories onto tablecloths telling of the hardship people are facing, as well as their hope that things can change. Here are some of Harlow’s responses:

“Why can’t we go to work and not need a top up from benefits? Proper wages and time with friends and family should be a given, for society as a whole.”

“Jumping through hoops. Working and on Universal Credit too, still can’t afford the essentials.”

“Many people are lonely and isolated. We need more community spaces that don’t cost money. There’s not enough for young people to do.”

“We may not have it all together in Harlow, but together we have it all.”

“I came to Harlow with nothing. Now I have all I need: a family, a community and hope. A town is a community that works together, not concrete or money.”

“Local Housing Allowance needs to be reviewed and changed, especially for under 35s.”

Trussell’s Hardship Times reveals how the current social security system can have devastating consequences when it leaves people unable to afford the essentials. It also tells of a growing movement for change calling on the UK government to take urgent action on hunger.

The publication exposes how more than 1.4 million emergency parcels were distributed by its community of food banks in the past six months. This includes more than half a million parcels provided for children.

In Harlow Foodbank, over the past year, 4,423 food parcels were distributed, with 40% going to children, which amounted to food to cover 10,219 people. 45% of vouchers go to households with a single income (eg people living in homes alone or in houses of multiple occupancy), 25% to single parent families. So 70% of the people most likely to come to us are single income households. The majority (87%) of homes in Harlow who visit Harlow Foodbank are in receipt of Universal Credit.

Across the UK more than 277,000 people visited a food bank for the first time between April and September, including more than 129,000 families. Trussell contend this clearly demonstrates the need for action by the UK government to lay out their plan for keeping their manifesto promise to end the need for emergency food in the UK.

Andy Thornton, CEO at Harlow Foodbank related the event to the situation in our town :

“I have had many conversations with people who never thought they would need to visit a foodbank, but our inadequate social security system means that they have no savings or spare cash when the slightest thing goes wrong. I met a lady who had lost her job and then became a widow. At 64, she told me that the foodbank had saved her life – the Universal Credit rate was not enough to support it. This is the main reason that people come and visit us, it’s clear to see that at £91 per week for a single adult is not able to cover the essentials like food, bills and travel.”

Food banks offer hope, dignity and relief to people facing hardship. Winter is often the busiest time of year for food banks and many need vital funds to provide services beyond distributing emergency food. Harlow Foodbank offers advice and support that unlocks money and services someone should be getting, as well as debt management advice, and other services aimed at helping people out of financial hardship.  

Emma Revie, CEO of Trussell, said: “We are proud and delighted that Harlow Foodbank could join others from the Trussell community of food banks to take their stories of hardship and hope straight to Westminster, but they shouldn’t have to travel this far to be heard.

Emma Batrick, Organising and Campaigns Manager, Harlow Foodbank, at Westminster holding The Hardship Times

“We stand alongside the team from Harlow as we all continue to call for change. The UK government was elected with a manifesto pledge to end the need for emergency food and the time to act is now, so I would encourage their local representatives, from whichever party, to get in touch with them and to take the time to listen to what they have to say. 

“Harlow Foodbank is a lifeline to their community, offering a warm welcome and space to be heard. They need everyone to play their part to move us towards ending the need for emergency food in the UK. You can help make sure food banks can continue to provide warm, compassionate, practical support and advice this winter by volunteering, donating, fundraising, or campaigning to help end hunger in the UK.”

To find out more about Harlow Foodbank, visit https://mrct.org.uk/foodbank/