The number of people using foodbanks has risen dramatically in the past few years, which one Bracknell food bank has called ‘depressing.’ 

Rising inflation, the energy price cap increase, low incomes and an ‘inadequate’ Universal Credit system are having a drastic impact on the levels of poverty and the need for additional support. 

Bracknell Foodbank manager, Claire Mather, said: “Historically what tends to happen is business is always really busy over Christmas. Then the numbers come down a bit and it stays quite steady – but this year we have experienced a gradual increase since January.” 

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In 2021, the charity provided 4,864 clients with food – 2,686 adults and 2,178 children – which saw 38.1 tonnes of produce given out in the form of food parcels, with an additional 46.2 tonnes handed out as extras. 

Ms Mather added: “Instead of a 17 per cent increase in vouchers given out [seen nationally] we had a 33 per cent increase during the October to December 2021 period, compared with the same time in 2019. 

“The cost of living is definitely impacting people big time, especially the last couple of months. What’s coming in doesn’t match what’s going out. 

“I was talking to a gentleman the other day who just can’t afford to heat his house and his wife has got really bad mental health problems because of it all.” 

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Almost 100 people die in poverty in Bracknell Forest every year, according to recently released research conducted by Loughborough University.   

The findings could even be an underestimate as the research analysed data from before both the coronavirus pandemic and the cost-of-living crisis. 

The estimates suggest that 93 people in Bracknell Forest died in 2019 having experienced poverty in the last year of their life – around 13 per cent of the total number of deaths in the area. 

Ms Mather explains: “Foodbanks were only ever meant to be used in a crisis situation to tide somebody over, but we are seeing people having to keep coming back to us. We don’t want to encourage dependency because that’s making people’s situation worse rather than better.  

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“Pre-covid we would get some people that would come back every so often but now we have people that come back regularly.” 

Bracknell Foodbank, supported by The Trussell Trust, works closely with the local council to assist those in need. 

Head of Welfare, Early Help & Communities, Sharon Warner, said: “Bracknell Forest Council is committed to supporting residents in financial hardship and has a clear record of offering support to those struggling with the costs of food and energy through the Local Welfare Scheme. 

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“We are working closely with our voluntary and community sector partners to improve local support for those experiencing financial hardship.  

“We remain committed to providing support to residents in financial hardship and urge anyone who feels they need this to contact the council or Citizens Advice Bureau.”