LAST Wednesday staff and volunteers from Harlow Foodbank and Harlow Hive joined campaigners across the country in a 700-strong mass lobby of MPs – all coming with the same message: Increase the Universal Credit rate so that people can afford the essentials.

This is the central theme of When Sam Tried to Close the Foodbank, a book created by a local author and a local illustrator. It features accounts from four people who have visited Harlow Foodbank, two of whom have had to go because of complications with Universal Credit. The book ends with the Foodbank Manager stating that he wishes that the Foodbank didn’t exist and that people could get by without them: until something changes with the social security system, this will not happen.

Comedian, presenter, podcaster and Trussell ambassador Nish Kumar followed Trussell’s CEO Emma Revie to open the day. The anti-poverty charity brought together food bank visitors, volunteers and staff to speak out against the severe levels of hardship they are seeing across the country and how this affects people in their local area. Nish was then presented with the book by the author, Emma Batrick along with Harlow Hive members Dave Hobbs and Ann Rummelhart.

But they weren’t there just to share the book and speak to Nish Kumar. They were primarily there to share messages from Harlow Foodbank and charities in Harlow with our MP, Chris Vince.

This comes as Trussell, who run a network of food banks across the country, and anti-poverty charity Joseph Rowntree Foundation, have released research which shows that at £92 a week, the current basic rate of Universal Credit is a big driver of the hardship we see in our communities.

“At Harlow Foodbank, we know that the Universal Credit rate is having a huge impact on the people who visit us,” explains Andy Thornton, CEO of MRCT, the charity which oversees Harlow Foodbank. “In fact, 85% of visitors over the past year have told us that Universal Credit is the main reason that they are struggling so much that they have needed to visit a food bank.

“The £92 a week has not been set by any expert. We urge the UK government to seek independent advice on setting the base of Universal Credit, so that it is a figure which is more representative of what people can live on. While the government has committed to increase the Universal Credit rate, this will come in a few years. It’s not soon enough. The rate needs to at least cover the cost of the essentials now.

“We can’t see how it’s right that organisations and groups like ours are the only place people have to turn? Is it right that we are relied on to plug the gaps?”

The group took the words of visitors to Harlow Foodbank to Chris Vince, along with a letter, calling on him to help secure the changes that would ensure our social security system protects the Harlow community from going without the essentials.

This was signed by local organisations including Changing Lives, Harlow Ethnic Minority Umbrella, Citizens Advice, Roots to Wellbeing, Harlow Islamic Centre, Mind in West Essex, Jokey Poyntz – Team Vicar and Deanery Missioner for Harlow – and MRCT organisations Bump to Five, Harlow Hive and Maybury Open Door.

“We appreciated Chris Vince’s time meeting with us.” Andy continued, “We passed on many of the stories we have heard from our clients, and felt assured that he will escalate our words and their experiences further.”

“We were, however, disappointed to see that Chris will not be against the disability cuts bill, that has been calculated to push nearly a million more people into severe hardship and towards to the doors of foodbanks.

“Whether it’s to our neighbours, Nish Kumar or Chris Vince, we will continue to raise the voices of those who need us. We will continue working towards a future where people can live in dignity, and able to afford the essentials.”

Trussell’s data shows that three quarters of Trussell food bank users are disabled or live with someone who is disabled. The Trussell Trust have created a link for those who concerned about this to contact their MP:

https://action.trussell.org.uk/your-mp-must-vote-against-cruel-cuts-disability-support