Horsham charity sees foodbank usage soar

Horsham Matters, which runs five Trussell Trust foodbanks, fed almost 1,000 people in the last financial year and since April this year has already fed 294 people, of whom 100 were children.

Around a third of those were at the one at St Andrew’s Methodist Church in Roffey.

Foodbank co-ordinator Ruth Hodgson said: “In two months we have already seen a quarter of the people we saw in total last year.

“We have seen a lot of people who are here because of benefit delays due to benefit changes or who are in work and just don’t have enough money to eat.”

Chris, 48, was visiting the Roffey outlet for the second time in two months. She said: “I’m on benefits, have four children and six grandchildren. They don’t live with me, but are always in and out. I just can’t afford to live. I have rent arrears - not a lot but it all counts.

“This has been going on since February.

“The first time I came was four or five weeks ago and came again today because I’m struggling. I don’t take advantage of it.”

That is what volunteers have seen across the board. Last year 23 per cent of clients were in a household where someone is in paid employment and this year 38 per cent have been due to benefit delays or changes and 27 per cent due to low income.

Visitors find there are added benefits to coming as well.

Chris continued: “It’s nice to have a chat, I’ve been here for nearly an hour. The first time I came there were people in the same situation so coming here has given me a lift.”

Horsham Matters is just one of the charities in the Horsham district which runs foodbank projects. Many churches, for example have set up their own schemes to meet the need they are seeing in their areas.

For more information about volunteering in your area go to horshamdistrict.foodbank.org.uk.

Don’t miss out on all the latest breaking news where you live.

Here are four ways you can be sure you’ll be among the first to know what’s going on.

1 Make our website your homepage at www.wscountytimes.co.uk

2 Like our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/wscountytimes

3 Follow us on Twitter @wscountytimes

4 Register with us by clicking on ‘sign in’ (top right corner). You can then receive our daily newsletter AND add your point of view to stories that you read here.

And do share with your family and friends – so they don’t miss out!

The County Times – always the first with your local news.

Be part of it.