Politicians' failure to do their jobs could 'push vulnerable people into difficult circumstances' says chairman of Craigavon Food Bank

Speaking to a packed suite at Craigavon Civic Centre including local councillors, MLAs and Upper Bann MP Carla Lockhart, Chris Leech, Chairman of Craigavon Food bank said: “We need more response from our politicians and government.”

Mr Leech said the 10th anniversary of Craigavon Food Bank was nothing to celebrate with other speakers predicting very difficult times ahead due to the Cost of Living Crisis and soaring energy costs.

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Also in attendance was Links Counselling Service which offers help to those struggling with their mental health and a representative from the Trussell Trust who outlined the dire economic straits affecting people across the UK.

Emma Beggs from the foodbank revealed that, in the last 10 years, more than 18k adults and more than 13,500 children have been helped by the foodbank. The foodbank has shared 1, 007,737 meals over that decade to those in need.

Emma revealed that year on year since the food bank started, there has been an ‘exponential’ increase in the demand for their services.

“I September 2021 we put through almost 90 referrals but in September 2022 we more than doubled that,” said Emma who added that the vast majority of those using the food bank, only do so once and many wait for days without food before seeking help.

Emma added: “If it wasn’t for the people of the Craigavon area, we are the best stocked food bank in Northern Ireland.”

Mr Leech said: “As the days get colder and electric and heating bills rise, it is vital that our elected representatives at Council, Stormont and Westminster do everything they can to help the most vulnerable. That includes taking their seats and participating fully in the roles that we elected them to.

"We currently have a failure of government, a failure of democracy as people elected to represent their communities, as MLA’s are refusing to do the jobs that they were elected to do.

"We must have a working government at Stormont so that every effort can be made to help vulnerable people in our communities. I don’t have a particular political axe to grind, but I will chose to speak up for the most vulnerable people in the community.

"My fear is that political inaction whether it is in Stormont or Westminster will push vulnerable people into difficult circumstances.

"When someone is struggling to meet the basic needs for food, shelter and heat, this has a massive impact on mental health and wellbeing. Unfortunately we will probably see people taking their own lives this winter as they see it as the only way out of their difficult circumstances.

“What is it going to look like when our suicide rates rise this winter and who takes responsibility for that?” he asked.

"The conservative governments actions at the last mini budget show a conscious bias towards the economy and not the poor.

"We are still waiting for substantial and strategic action to ensure the people have the safety of a roof over their heads (often needing protected from the whims of unscrupulous landlords), heat in their houses and food on the table.

"Those are basic necessities and it is a sad indictment on our government that we are even talking about them. Therefore currently poverty is a policy choice at a national level.”

Chris also revealed that, while working with the other three food banks in the area (Armagh Food Bank, Storehouse Banbridge and Via Wings in Dromore), an idea was developed to engage more with local food businesses to channel donations strategically into the community sector. This would also address food waste.

“Through this project we have been able to create one central distribution point for food donations into the community sector, primarily focused on supplying,” he said.

He asked the audience what ‘true community spirit and activism’ would look like.

“We need to reimagine what it looks like to protest, to organise and to act,” said Chris who, as part of the Community and Voluntary Sector Panel, is in the process of setting up an Anti-poverty forum and exploring the opportunity for a Poverty Truth Commission.

“Poverty is an injustice in our communities that we can either ignore if it doesn’t effect us, or we can take it both seriously and personally and act.

"We can petition our local politicians and we should do that. But what if we organised more at a grass roots level to check on our neighbours, to create warm and welcome spaces.

"What if we even went a bit further than that and counted the cost of helping others financially? Or dropping in a cooked meal to a neighbour, sticking an anonymous envelope through someone’s door.”

Chris said there are a number of ways people can support the Food Bank. via pointing people to the Food Bank if they need help, helping to remove the stigma of foodbanks and donating food and money to help support the Food Bank with running costs.

Lord Mayor of Armagh, Banbridge and Craigavon Council, Paul Greenfield paid tribute to all who run Craigavon Food Bank and the army of volunteers who work tirelessly in the background.

"The success of a food bank depends on the generosity of the public, churches, schools and businesses in terms of donations. But its real success is its human resource, in the people who have volunteered in the past and continue to volunteer with it.

"Many people from the local community have given up their time and served diligently in making sure that food parcels get to people in their time of need.”

He added: “During the Covid lockdowns, the food bank provided a vital role in responding to the needs of the community, with many new volunteers being recruited to provide a service, which was supporting over 500 families each week, which is a phenomenal effort.”