Holiday rise in calls to foodbank

STOCKING up: Oldham Foodbank manager Andrew Barr boxes up donated goods

FAMILIES feeling the pinch over half-term caused an almost 30 per cent spike in visits to Oldham foodbank.

Operator Andrew Barr said there were 133 visits to the Clegg Street centre during the week-long school break, compared to 103 during the same holiday last year. An extra 21 emergency packages were sent to various agencies to be distributed in the borough.

Mr Barr said: “We get a lot of people who work but may have agency jobs and have been laid off after Christmas. We seem to be getting benefit delays, which is the biggest cause of people coming in.

“People are struggling - it now takes five weeks from making a claim to getting the first universal credit payment. For five weeks people struggle.

“They get their last pay cheque and quite often spend that on rent or power because they know there’s going to be a delay.”

Mr Barr added: “We’re really appreciative of the support we get from the people of Oldham, because without it then we wouldn’t exist. Everything we have, all the food, is donated by local people.

“The Foodbank is Oldham people looking after Oldham people.”