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Wales Online
5 days ago
- General
- Wales Online
The people who are helping those in need at foodbanks in Wales and what they're hearing from them
The people who are helping those in need at foodbanks in Wales and what they're hearing from them Charmaine Walsh is a foodbank support manager in RCT and has shared some of the situations that people who use local foodbanks find themselves in Some foodbanks have seen persistently high levels of food bank need in recent years (Image: Reach Commissioned ) 'I'm seeing doctors, nurses, and even lawyers having to use a food bank' a foodbank support manager in Rhondda Cynon Taf (RCT) has said. Following the recent release of statistics about food bank use over the last year in RCT, the Local Democracy Reporting Service heard from Charmaine Walsh about some of the stories she is hearing from people. People who are having to use them with over 16,634 emergency food parcels having been provided to people facing hardship across RCT between April 2024 and March 2025 and 5,793 of these being provided for children. The RCT Foodbanks have seen a 7.7% slight decrease in the number of emergency food parcels distributed compared to last year but despite this slight dip, RCT has seen persistently high levels of food bank need in recent years, with a sharp 30.1% rise compared with 2019/20. Charmaine said: 'While we saw referrals decrease slightly, the need for food banks across the UK has not wavered. As a food bank support manager, every day I speak to people who tell me they are struggling to put food on the table and are unable to afford the essentials. 'People tell me how they used to be able to scrape by, but now they have nothing left at the end of the month. They are having to use the foodbank because money just doesn't last the way it used to, due to the high cost of living, and because low incomes from work and social security payments are not covering the costs of the essentials. 'At the food bank, I've been told many times how people have had to wait up to 12 weeks for their Universal Credit (UC) or Personal Independence Payments (PIP) to come through. Article continues below 'During that period, they often have no money left and no one to lean on, so they can receive support from the food bank for as long as it takes for them to get back on their feet. 'Recently, someone coming to the food bank told me they had been using PayPal Pay to cover their weekly shop. Essentially, they were spreading the cost of their food shop over three months, and they are not alone. 'Parents dread half-term because it means a week's worth of extra meals to find for their children. 'During this time, parents will often ask me if I know of any free things to do over half term, as they simply don't have the money to treat the children to a day out. 'I'm seeing more and more of what we are calling in-work poverty, where both parents in a household are working but they simply don't have enough coming in to cover the bills. 'I'm seeing doctors, nurses, and even lawyers having to use a food bank. No-one wants to go to a food bank. But people are having to swallow their pride and go, because they have no other option. 'We refuse to stand by while so many of us can't afford to eat, keep warm and pay the bills. It doesn't have to be this way. Everyone should have enough money to afford the essentials like food, bills and toiletries. 'The UK Government's plans to slash support for disabled people only risk pushing more people to the doors of food banks. 'That's why Taff Ely, together with Trussell, is calling on the UK Government to rethink its planned cuts to disability benefits and do what is right." To get all the latest news on politics, health, education and other Welsh issues, sign up to our Wales Matters newsletter here. She also shared some stories from local people who have used the foodbank. One person said: 'I was struggling for food and was living in temporary accommodation. I came to the foodbank after receiving a voucher from my support worker. I felt ashamed to have to use a foodbank but was grateful that services like this existed. 'I was also awaiting the results of my PIP claim, so I had no money until that decision was made. I was supported through this, making sure I had enough food until my PIP decision was made. I was also being supported by my support worker to get onto Homefinder to find a place of my own.' After a recent call with them, Charmaine said she was delighted to hear they now have their own accommodation and to find out that PIP had been awarded. Charmaine said that they were extremely thankful and emotional on the phone and were grateful for all the support they were able to offer them. Another person said: 'I have a long-term health issue that isn't going to get any better, my children's school referred me for a foodbank, I was embarrassed, ashamed and anxious to have to use one, but would do anything to feed my kids. 'My eldest daughter is my carer and helps out with her siblings who also have health issues. It was Christmas time when I came to the foodbank, I had £3 in the bank and not a clue on how I was going to manage. 'I spoke to Charmaine who reassured me that it was nothing to be ashamed or embarrassed about, and that we all fall on hard times. I was amazed by the generosity of everyone at the food bank and the amount of food I was given. 'She explained that the local church was doing Christmas dinner free of charge, but I knew I'd never make it with my health issues and the children, so she suggested they find a way to deliver it to me. 'In that moment, I just broke down. I know my situation isn't going to get better any time soon, but in that short space of time, I was shown so much kindness and generosity from strangers that I had a glimmer of hope again.' A UK Government spokesperson recently said the government is determined to change people's lives for the better, help them out of poverty and tackle the unacceptable rise in food bank dependence in recent years. They said the government is reforming the broken welfare system it inherited so it can get people into good, secure jobs, while always protecting those who need it most. Article continues below They said that as part of the plan for change, the UK Government is extending the household support fund, launching 750 breakfast clubs across the country and making changes to universal credit to give a £420 boost to over one million households. POLL Do you think the Valleys has changed over the past 50 years? Do you think the Valleys has changed over the past 50 years? YES NO
Scottish Sun
28-05-2025
- Scottish Sun
£100,000 OF JET2HOLIDAYS VOUCHERS TO BE WON
Win one of a hundred £1,000 Jet2holidays vouchers this summer! HOLI-YAY £100,000 OF JET2HOLIDAYS VOUCHERS TO BE WON Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) GET away this summer thanks to Jet2holidays. We have a whopping £100,000 worth of holiday vouchers up for grabs, with 100 lucky Sun readers each winning a £1,000Jet2holidays voucher for this summer! You can spend your £1,000 voucher however you like across Jet2holidays bumper map of hotspots and hidden gems. 2 Family fun in the sun with Jet2holidays We are talking classic favourites like Majorca, Turkey and Tenerife, or how about somewhere in Montenegro or Greece? Plus, they have lots of tempting new destinations to choose from, including the Costa de la Luz, Pula and the Istrian Coast. Jet2holidays is the UK's number one tour operator, providing package holidays you can trust to more than 65 sun-soaked destinations across Europe and beyond. With decades of expertise, flexible stays for all boards and budgets, and fab flight times, they are with you every step of the way. 2 Choose from hundreds of destinations with their wide range of holidays All Jet2holidays include return flights, 2 to 5-star accommodation, return transfers~, 22kg baggage and 10kg hand luggage, wrapped up into an ABTA and ATOL-protected package. So they're always giving you more. And the best part? You can secure your stay and spread the cost with PayPal Pay in three interest-free payments^. There are millions of Free Child Place holidays‡ available too. Nothing beats a Jet2holiday! HOW TO ENTER? Download the Sun Savers app or sign up to Go to the Offers section and click Start Collecting on the Jet2holidays page. Pick up The Sun newspaper and collect FIVE out 13 Sun Savers codes. We will print one daily in the newspaper from Saturday, May 31 until Thursday, June 12. Enter or scan your five Sun Savers codes on the app or website by midnight on Friday, June 20. Or sign up to Sun Club for £1.99 and enter without the need to collect Sun Savers codes. 18+ UK residents only (exc. NI, IoM & CI). Multiple code collect 31/05/25-13/06/25. Digital Newspaper and Sun Club subscribers enter by 20/06/25. Online access required. Entry closes 23:59pm on 20/06/25. ~Unless otherwise stated. *On bookings made ten weeks or more before departure. Full payment required by balance due date. ^See for full details. T&Cs apply, see or Sun Club: Introductory offer £1.99 per month for the first 12 months, then £4.99 thereafter; or £12 in advance for first 12 months, then £49.99 per year unless you cancel at least 7 days before your next billing date. For full Sun Club T&Cs, visit ‡One free child place per two paying passengers. Subject to availability. T&Cs apply, please see here for further details.
The Irish Sun
28-05-2025
- The Irish Sun
£100,000 OF JET2HOLIDAYS VOUCHERS TO BE WON
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