Foodbank demand set to rise in 2018
Numbers of people using Wetherby and District Foodbank are expected to rise in the coming year.
Changes to benefits claims are putting increasing pressure on people in the area according to Wetherby Mayor Coun Norma Harrington who is also Chair of Trustees at the scheme.
“We are seeing an increase in claimants awaiting benefit decisions,” said Coun Harrington.
“And with the roll out of Universal Credit in our area next year, we are expecting to see an increase in people coming to us, as has been evident in other areas already.”
Wetherby and District Foodbank was set up as an Outreach Mission by the Methodist Church, but other churches from the town and surrounding villages were called to help with the large project.
The community based foodbank was set up under the umbrella organisation of the Trussell Trust in 2014 and now has six trustees, a Steering Group of 10 and about 80 volunteers.