High Peak Food Bank launches cash appeal as demand doubles during coronavirus crisis

High Peak Food Bank say food parcels are being sought by up to 50 families a week.

Paul Bohan, area coordinator for the project, says families previously reliant on self-employed income were now struggling to put food on the table.

The Government is offering the self-employed grants of up to 80 per cent of trading profits for three months - however the money will not land in bank accounts until June.

Business owners can claim universal credit but the increase in demand means longer waits for many.

Universal Credit loans are available to keep people going until their claim is processed however these have to be repaid through a reduction in payments - leaving many struggling to cope.

Paul said: “We’re finding people are coming to us four weeks into their payments saying they don’t have enough to keep going.

“Self-employed people are also having to carry on paying to keep their businesses going as well as household costs.

“The number of people claiming Universal Credit now in the UK has risen to half-a-million - which is going to mean longer waits.”

The foodbank is part of employability and debt advice service the Zinc Project.

To try and reduce pressure on the feedback the Zinc Project are offering advice over the phone for those in trouble - as many of those seeking help are often unaware of what they can claim.

Paul said: “There are people who have worked all their lives and have now lost their jobs.

“They don’t know anything about the benefits system and don’t know how to claim but we can divert them away from the foodbank and help them - minimising the risk of contact at the foodbank.

“We’re trying to do things a bit differently, for example, with self-employed people we can give them two weeks-worth of food while we signpost them to other help to stop people coming into the foodbank.”

The project’s employment help service is already up and running with advice for those newly unemployed.

High Peak foodbank normally provides parcels containing seven days-worth of food - containing non-perishable items such as tins, pasta, rice and packets.

However they also source fresh fruit and vegetables from supermarket surpluses but panic-buying has reduced leftover food almost to zero.

To help plug the gap the foodbank has launched an appeal for cash donations - allowing them to buy directly from a wholesaler.

However the vital food provider has benefited from the generosity of High Peak people amid the panic of Covid-19.

Paul said: “There are a lot of businesses in the catering sector in Buxton that have had to close down.

“They’ve been really generous and given us a lot of fresh vegetables and bread - it’s been quite humbling.

“During a time of crisis for them they were thinking of others.”Though the coronavirus outbreak has meant some big challenges for the foodbank Paul says they have built up a good supply between October and January and hope to be able to keep going.

To donate to High Peak Food Bank’s appeal click HERE.

For help with employment or income issues get in touch with the Zinc Project by clicking HERE.