Shanklin’s foodbank use is increasing

“A lot of working people” are “just not able to cover their living costs”, the manager of the Footprint Trust charity told Shanklin Town Council last week.

In an update on fuel and food poverty at Falcon Cross Hall, Laura Stitchbury said many users of Shanklin’s foodbank were in work – “on the cusp” of not being able to claim benefits but unable to make ends meet.

She said: “In the last five years, our area has very much been in fuel poverty – supporting people who are unable to pay energy bills.

“When I first started working for the Footprint Trust, most people had to ask what fuel poverty was, whereas now I’m sure almost everybody here is aware, with the cost of living crisis and energy bills doubling over the past few years, in most communities it’s really quite prevalent.

“The foodbank in Shanklin has a range of people – a lot come in with support workers, they’re already on the more vulnerable side of things, there’s been homeless people who use that foodbank as well.”

She added a lot of working people, including single people, are accessing the foodbank because they’re on the cusp of not being able to claim benefits but they are unable to cover their living costs.

Speaking after the meeting, Shanklin mayor, Cllr Sara Sheath, said: “Having listened to Laura, we will now look into the feasibility of providing a meeting point in Falcon Cross Hall so that agencies and organisations that support residents can come together and be available to speak to all in one place.”