Brighton and Hove City Council leader Jason Kitcat on the city’s increasing need for food banks

Some 270 households in the city are receiving food parcels from the 13 food banks in and around our city. This compares to about two food banks in July 2012.

The growth in food banks has been well-documented, and is in part due to many residents facing growing debt, low wages, insecure jobs, and cuts to benefits. People on low incomes don’t often have the buffer of a savings account to help pay for emergency expenses such as a new washing machine or needing a new school uniform, and as a result it’s often the food budget that has to give.

This kind of food poverty is caused by underlying financial issues that we’ve been trying to address through developing a community banking partnership called Moneyworks. There is a money advice line (01273 809288) for residents experiencing financial difficulties, where they can find out more about help available across council and third sector services.

This partnership includes charity organisations such as the Citizens Advice Bureau and Money Advice Community Support Service, as well as community hubs like the Hangleton & Knoll Project and Whitehawk Inn. Importantly the Food Partnership is also involved in ensuring that Moneyworks is able to help residents find out about short-term emergency support as well as long-term help with food issues such as growing clubs and lunch clubs.

Already many of the calls to the helpline have been about residents in urgent need of help with food so it’s clear it’s a major issue. However food poverty can’t be tackled in isolation and it is a symptom of residents having wider financial problems. It’s essential that addressing access to affordable and healthy food continues to be a key part of the advice and support available to our many residents struggling through financial difficulties.

We’ll continue doing what we can despite growing need, and ongoing government cuts to welfare and council budgets.