Highland Foodbank, operated by Blythswood Care, prepares for rise in referrals as people struggle with crippling energy costs
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A charity which provides emergency food parcels for people in crisis in the Highlands is bracing itself for a rise in referrals as people struggle to meet soaring energy costs.
Highland Foodbank, which operates food banks in Inverness and Nairn as well as Dingwall, Alness and Tain, saw an increase in numbers earlier this year – although they have dipped recently – while donations have dropped considerably.
The scheme, operated by Blythswood Care, provides a minimum of three days emergency food and support.
Manager Lorna Dempster said: “Every day, people in the Highlands are struggling to put food on the table.
“Reasons range from redundancy to receiving an unexpected bill on a low income.”
During the first six months of this year, the food bank had about 3000 referrals across the region compared with 2546 for the same period last year.
In Inverness and Nairn, it fed over 1500 adults and children in the first six months of 2022.
The figures fluctuate from month to month.
“Over the last couple of weeks, due to the government’s cost of living payments, we have understandably noticed a decrease in the number of referrals,” Mrs Dempster said.
“We do anticipate a rise in referrals as the winter months approach and heating costs cripple many people.
“Nobody really needs to have their heating on at the moment. But come winter, that is when people need to keep warm and that will impact.”
At the same time, donations of food have dropped by about five tonnes – about five per cent – in the first six months of this year compared to the same period last year.
“I think everyone is feeling the pinch and tightening their belts,” said Mrs Dempster, who acknowledged that while stock levels were not at crisis point, it was concerning.
Referrals to the food bank are made via various partners including social workers, housing associations, support workers and Citizens Advice.
“People are very anxious and stressed about the situation they are in,” Mrs Dempster said.
“A lot of people are in and out of jobs and their benefits might not be working.
“If someone has come out of a job and waiting for their first Universal Credit payment, that might have taken weeks.
“We see grown men, tough men, in tears. They don’t know what is next. They don’t know how they are going to get through.
“It is really difficult.”
The food bank is also seeing more people who are in work than it has done previously.
“There’s always going to be something which throws someone into crisis, whether that be an increase in costs, or waiting for a first pay cheque, or forking out extra money to attend a loved one’s funeral,” she said.
Mrs Dempster also said the issue had gone beyond the dilemma of “eat or heat” as people had to weigh up the energy costs to cook food.
“Just now people are facing the choice of whether to buy food or put money on for electricity in a pre-paid meter,” she said.
“That is not for heating at this time of year. That is to be able to cook food that we give them.”
For a while, the food bank provided carrots, for example, from a local farm but the energy costs of using them to make soup were considerable.
Mrs Dempster urged would-be donors to check online for up-to-date information about food items needed.
This month, it is short on UHT milk, long life fruit juice, tins of potatoes, tins of ham and corned beef, tins of custard/rice, shampoo and toothpaste.
But it is currently not able to accept pasta, beans and soup due to the large quantities in stock.
Food bank receives critical funding
The food bank is looking at the idea of including hot water bottles in emergency packs to help people keep warm, even if they cannot keep their homes warm.
