To ask how long you think food banks should support people for?

[tartanbaker]

I help to run an independent food bank, & we currently support over 100 families. We are nearing our capacity (in terms of numbers we can help) due to limited storage etc, but there are new people applying all the time. We give people food every week, and some families have been registered with us for about 2 years now. They are still needy, and we all know that things are going to continue being tough for the foreseeable future, so my question is…if you were to donate to a food bank, how would you want them to use your food/money? Continuing to help everyone for as long as they ask for help, even though it might mean turning others away? Or telling existing families who rely on you that you can’t help them any more because you are going to help new people now? It’s so hard, and an ongoing debate we are having, and I’d be really interested to hear other people’s opinions. Both options seem really tough….

I would offer a year of the full package.
Then a year with a reduced amount eg 50% of goods to try and wean off.
Then request a new referral in to re-access.

I know it's hard and harsh but it has to be new referrals that take priority. I would imagine donations will also reduce soon.

I'm ashamed that we have food banks at all.

That's a tricky one. Maybe give notice to those who have self -referred and have been on your books for ages and tell them that they need to obtain an official referral in order to continue? Surely food banks are meant to be for emergencies not a life-style choice?

I'd be thinking some long term users are taking advantage meaning the are spending money on other things knowing they can get food from you.
If somebody needed to use a food bank for 2 years especially someone with children I would be concerned about the children's home life, food banks are for short term use surely until you get back on your feet find a new job pay the extra bills or whatever.

Sadly this is right. 2 years is too long to still be relying on external help. Can you check to see if these families should still be needing to use the food bank? If new families are turned away because family A doesn't want to look for a job or something(not that blunt but ykwim)then how is that supporting family B?

I have a friend who used a foodbank after his PIP was stopped. He would have starved otherwise. And PIP appeals take months. He would have been pretty shafted if there was a limit on the time he could have used the foodbank.

But then I have another friend who regularly uses foodbanks, doesn't like what she is given so passes it on.. and spends her money on weed, and asks to borrow money for takeaways.

Of course, in 2022, there should be no need for foodbanks at all.

Sorry but I don't think they should continue indefinitely. Fair enough to help over a period of weeks whilst people wait for benefit claims to be processed or in an emergency situation - bereavement, relationship breakdown etc, but any longer and like others have said it creates dependency and this shouldn't exclude others being helped.

Foodbanks are really nothing new, it's just the name that has changed.

Many years ago I can remember the church I attended always having an 'emergency' supply of basic groceries available for people in need.

Goods were always distributed after Harvest Festival.

At Christmas, Brownies & Guides made up and gave out 'food parcels' for the needy in the Parish.

The Health Visitors at the local clinic had a supply of donated baby/childrens' clothes for struggling families.

The difference is that years ago the distribution was more discreet as people felt stigmatised if they asked for help, so the extent of the problem wasn't know.

I agree.

Food banks are a vital resource for those genuinely in need, but without strictly enforced eligibility criteria, they simply perpetuate a ‘something for nothing’ dependency culture, reward bad choices (eg cigarettes > food) and disincentivise self-reliance.

And no, I’m not a Tory.

Most food banks only allow short-term use, so having families rely on you for two years is unusual and I'd argue, unsustainable. I think you have to ask the question as to why some families are still dependent on you after that time - I suspect some of them are not claiming their full benefits entitlement and/or servicing debt they can't afford.

I think I'd look to partner up with a local CAB-style advice charity and effectively 'borrow' some of their volunteers for a short period of time to see if you can get to the root of the cause. You said one of your trustees was a benefits expert, but given the scale of your problem, one person isn't enough - ask for help. Plus, a benefits expert isn't the same as a debt expert.

There are, for example, CAB volunteers who also volunteer for Crisis seasonally - if you reach out to the right contacts, you should be able to get that extra short term support. Charities work best when they work together.

In the event you work out that some families really can't cope with your food bank long-term, I'd look to see if it was sustainable to run a subsidised shop, i.e. access food through you at a much reduced price, but for some money. It might enable you to keep helping existing service users for longer whilst still being able to help new service users.

I'd also consider scrapping the access to free fresh fruit, veg and protein. Food banks are supposed to be about survival, not luxuries, which is what those are. If you scale back what you give out, you'll be able to help more families survive. You have to pay for fresh fruit, but you could make a local appeal for people to donate tinned fruit. I think you're going to have to reassess how you make use of your funds to have the widest impact.

Unfortunately, with the cost of living crisis, you're looking at either supporting some families so they eat well, or supporting more families so they eat well enough.

PS Well done to you and the others. Food banks aren't just physically demanding to volunteer in, they're mentally tough work. You're doing a good thing.

We are just moving backwards in society. If we could evolve backwards, we would. Although many have without realising...

It's a shit situation op. I think I agree with people saying they stay on for a year then have to reapply so new applicants can come in. Or change your selection criteria like someone else said, meat on sale and seasonal veg only. Might help with costs to help more people.

I think we all agree that people shouldn't be depending on foodbanks on a long term basis. This shouldn't be necessary for anyone.

However, it is a fact that some people do not have enough income to cover their essential costs and, for a range of reasons, they are unable to increase their income. If they are to be denied access to foodbanks after 3 uses or whatever, what do people actually think should happen to them. Are you happy to just let them go hungry? Or are you in denial that such people exist?

Wow. It’s nothing short of a disgrace that this question even needs to asked really is it? Makes me irate.

Not your fault OP, of course, but no one should even be in this position in this country.

Official food banks only provide a set amount a year in my area. They can be referred in for four times within a 12 month period.

they can also access welfare support who can provide Tesco etc gift cards again in my area it’s only three a year for a family that’s £70 a time a single person is £30.

these limits were to ensure that there is enough food etc to help people. Then there’s other options one charity does a small bag of food once a week for people to collect.

we also have food clubs for families who pay £3 for a large selection of food once a week.

As long as people need it. Which might be for years, or a couple of weeks. It evidences a need for more foodbanks, not restricting access

No, it evidences the need for better government policy in order to ensure that fewer people are having to turn to foodbanks.

In the absence of an appropriate government response, we do of course need more foodbanks, but that isn't really the right solution.

People are not reliant on food banks because they have developed a lazy dependency. They are reliant on them because many jobs do not pay enough money to cover the costs of housing, heating, other bills, childcare. The biggest difference would be the provision of suitable affordable housing but the current government are not going to provide that.

I genuinely don't see how you can choose between either group. Maybe everyone just has to get less. Perhaps there need to be more "soup kitchen" type places for adults which might be more economical? None of these things are solutions which should be necessary in one of the world's wealthiest countries.

I would think you have to have a time limit.

I had thought that all food banks worked on a similar basis to the Trussell trust, with a limited number of uses per person. Perhaps this is how OP's should have been set up from the off. But if they have created a dependency for some people then now surely can't be the time to break it? Those people will be struggling more than ever and it's going to get worse, if they have come to rely on the food bank then taking that away just as they need it most feels so cruel.

YANBU. I like the analogy @TheOnlyLivingBoyInNewCross made between food banks and first responders. You can shorten the period to eg one year. Some people will need longer term help; they can be re-referred after a shorter period.

Have you got statistics on the average length of time your clients use the food bank? That could inform your decision. I apologise if this had been discussed - I’ve not had time to RTFT.

My Niece uses our local food bank (I also buy food for her - she would prefer me to give her money & I know she sells some of what I buy her) but unfortunately I feel it’s a lot to do with the fact that she just can’t manage her finances. She spends her money on alcohol & so there’s then none left for food. She has had various agencies working with her to help budget/stop drinking but upto now without success.

Those that have been reliant on the food bank for say three or more parcels should be referred on for benefits/budgeting/debt advice to get to the root cause of the financial difficulties.