The use of foodbanks in Islington’s Caledonian ward has risen alarmingly during the pandemic, especially among families.
Zachary Gain, the manager of Kings Cross Foodbank, said “foodbanks have become a welfare substitute. Universal credit is not enough, people turn to foodbanks just to cope.”
“We’re anticipating a sharper rise of need over winter, with people spending more on energy bills and maybe even on Christmas”, he continued.
Before the pandemic, the Copenhagen Street Foodbank gave away about 60 bags of food every fortnight. Now, it distributes around 150 bags of food every week to feed nearly 300 people.
Meanwhile, the Kings Cross Foodbank, established during lockdown in response to growing demand, delivers around 35 to 40 food parcels a week mainly in the Caledonian road vicinity.
Many of those made redundant during the pandemic have struggled with the transition to Universal Credit, explained Zachary. It takes at least five weeks to get a first Universal Credit payment after making a claim, and it is during this window that people often turn to the Kings Cross Foodbank.
When waiting for their first Universal Credit payment, “parents sometimes have to decide between food or internet for their children’s schooling”, Zachary said.
It was once rare to see families at the Copenhagen Street Foodbank but since lockdown many have become regulars, explained manager Sister Miriam Bruder. Between 10 and 30 families of five or more have visited the foodbank every week since July, including some families of up to 15 people.
Notably, there have been fewer families at the Kings Cross Foodbank since children returned to school; Zachary wonders whether this might be to do with access to free school meals.
Some newly dependent on the Copenhagen Street Foodbank have lost their jobs and become homeless during the pandemic, with a few even sleeping on the streets, according to volunteer Mubanga. Self-employed people, such as taxi drivers, who saw their work dry up during the pandemic also now visit the foodbank.
