Need for aid still growing in Chippenham (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

Need for aid still growing in Chippenham

1:00pm Saturday 28th January 2012 in News By Alex Winter

Two charities with branches in Chippenham say more people from the town are needing to rely on them as the recession bites down.

The Salvation Army, based in Foghamshire, has been running a food bank since November 2010, with some 200 parcels handed out in just over two years, while charity Christians Against Poverty liaises with the army to identify those with significant debts.

Both say they are more in need than ever as families in the area struggle to make ends meet.

Corps assistant at the Foghamshire Salvation Army, Margaret Boyd, said the food bank is in high demand.

“Some parcels are for single people and some are for families,” she said.

“Around 180 adults and 221 children under 16 have been helped, and the need continues. We give out an average of 15 food parcels each month. A breakdown done into the reasons people need these parcels shows that the greatest food need is due to benefit cuts or delays.”

Between November 2010 and 2011, 64 people needed the parcels because of a delay in their benefits, by far the most-used reason for requiring the food bank.

In all, 23 were affected by benefits cuts, 13 had been refused a crisis loan and 30 needed them because of a low income.

Four people suffering domestic violence used the charity, 18 because of debts, and one to cover their child’s holiday meals.

Participants are referred to the charity by a number of agencies, including Unity House Hostel for the Homeless in Wood Street, Rise Children's Centres across the area, Chippenham Social Services and the North Wilts Credit Union.

Mrs Boyd said: “Most of the figures are clearly to do with money – not just if people have it, but where it is going. That’s where groups like Christians Against Poverty come in. They help people to budget and know what to do with their money.”

Islay Roberts of Sheldon Road Methodist Church is the local Christians Against Poverty representative and often helps those in poverty in the area.

He said: “The situation hasn’t levelled out and it’s not getting any better. It’s actually beginning to grow again. We’ve had Christmas and now credit card bills are beginning to land on doorsteps. People are starting to worry about how they are going to manage.”

Clients of CAP contact the charity before a representative goes to their homes to assess their financial situation and write up a budget.

Mr Roberts said: “We stick with them throughout the whole process, right up until they get out of debt. Sometimes when we go round there is nothing in the house to eat. We would take them to the supermarket and make sure there is something to eat if the food bank was closed – we would never leave someone without anything at all.”

For details, call the Salvation Army in Chippenham on (01249) 655458, or CAP on (01274) 760720 or www.capuk.org