Emergency food supplies issued to 4000+ people locally over 12 month period

More than 4,000 people across Wrexham needed emergency supplies from a foodbank over the last 12 months.

New figures released by anti-poverty charity, the Trussell Trust, show that while figures locally are down on the same period of last year, a total of 4,180 required emergency food supplies between 1st April 2017 and 31st March 2018.

This breaks down to 2,909 emergency food supplies being issued to adults and 1,271 to children.

The figures makes Wrexham’s foodbank usage the second highest in north Wales, with neighbouring county Flintshire issuing emergency food supplies to 6,268 people in the same period.

Across Wales Trussell Trust foodbanks in Wales gave out 98,350 three-day emergency food supplies to people in crisis between 1st April 2017 and 31st March 2018, a 3% increase on the previous year. 35,403 of these went to children.

During the same period, The Trussell Trust’s UK foodbank network distributed 1,332,952 three day emergency food supplies to people in crisis, a 13% increase on the previous year. 484,026 of these went to children.

The Trussell Trust warn that new Wales-specific data highlights the growing proportion of foodbank referrals due to benefit levels not covering the costs of essentials.

Commenting on the figures Tony Graham, director of Wales for The Trussell Trust, said: “No one in Wales should be left hungry or destitute – illness, disability, family breakdown or the loss of a job could happen to any of us, and we owe it to each other to make sure sufficient financial support is in place when we need it most.

“It’s hard to break free from hunger if there isn’t enough money coming in to cover the rising cost of absolute essentials like food and housing. For too many people staying above water is a daily struggle. It’s completely unacceptable that anyone is forced to turn to a foodbank as a result.

“The Welsh rollout of Universal Credit has been piecemeal, but when fully rolled out, is the future of our benefits system.

“It’s vital we get it right, and ensure levels of payment keep pace with the rising cost of essentials, particularly for groups of people we know are already more likely to need a foodbank – disabled people, people dealing with an illness, families with children and single parents.”