A punitive and slow benefits system is behind more and more people turning to food banks for help, says the Rev Andrew Evans.

Speaking to the Bridport News in reaction to the Church of England funded report ‘Feeding Britain’ published last week, the Rev Evans said the need for food banks would not be disappearing any time soon.

The report claimed that more than four million tonnes of edible food is binned every year by the UK food industry – with just two per cent donated to charity.

It also said many people use food banks during ‘unimaginable’ waits for benefit claims to be processed, or when they are left without income for months because of benefit sanctions.

Rev Evans runs the charity Cupboard Love in Bridport with his wife Chris, and said the charity is expecting double last year’s numbers wanting help at Christmas this year.

He said: “The primary cause for the growth in the use of food banks is not as two Government ministers stated, ‘because they are there’ and ‘because the poor can’t cook’, but rather low wages and a punitive and slow benefits system.

“I recently spoke to a man whose benefits have been ‘delayed’ for 13 days through no fault of his own.

“He has no money. How is he expected to feed himself?

“No wonder the Archbishop of Canterbury was shocked by the levels of hunger in Britain. “I listened to the Chancellor’s recent Autumn Statement with both ears.

“In one I heard we have the fastest growing economy in the world if not the entire cosmos.

“In the other, the cuts in the next Parliament will be more savage than in this and the welfare budget will be more reduced.

“So which is it?

“Profit or penury?

“Either way it seems the poor will continue to pay.

“Will spending be back at the level of 1948 or the 1930s?”

Rev Evans also urged people to give what they could to those less fortunate this Christmas.

He said: “We are well into the Christmas season, a time of year which puts added pressure on to already overstretched and inadequate budgets.

“Sometimes less is more.

“Might you review what you feel is necessary to ‘celebrate’ and reduce what you purchase just a little? Say just £5. How about that money is donated to a charity that works with the homeless, or why not place some items in the collecting bins for Cupboard Love and Hopeful Hampers?”

Rev Evans also added that offers of help have been pouring in following the Bridport and Lyme Regis News story about the rise in use of food banks.

He wished to thank all who had helped or donated food to Cupboard Love.

For more information about Cupboard Love call Andrew Evans on 07717 375032.

FOOD bank preparations to help those in need have begun in Lyme Regis for the festive season. Emergency parcels of food are being held at the churches, Kent house and the medical centre for any in need.

LymeNet will be closed from Christmas Eve until 9am on January 2, 2015.

Chairman of the Lyme Regis food bank, Audrey Vivian, said: “People in Lyme are very generous and we do not want anyone to go hungry. Please ask for help. If you know a neighbour has been sent home from hospital and is unable to shop for a short while please also let us know.

“We are so anxious to make sure no-one in our town has to go hungry for whatever reason.”

For more information call 07599 965647 or email bank@lrdt.co.uk.

At Christmas, a single donation to the Lyme Regis food bank of a more expensive high protein food would be of great help. This may include tinned meat or fish, tins of soup, UHT milk, instant coffee, tea and hot chocolate, instant custard powder, breakfast cereals, biscuits or crackers.

All items can be left at collection points or brought to LymeNet.