Elaine Norton, co-ordinator at CARE Immingham Access Point in Lincolnshire. (Image: William Lailey / SWNS)
Christian Action & Resource Enterprise is dedicated to relieving poverty and supporting people in need.
In North East Lincolnshire users receive food donations via the permanent collection point at Tesco Immingham in partnership with FareShare.
But as poverty has risen, so has demand.
Service coordinator Elaine Norton tries to combine frontline help with longer term education in a fight to break the cycle of poverty.
She said: “Immingham Access Point has been open for 10 years and every single year we find there’s an increased need. There’s been about a 20-30% increase in people coming to us every year – but since it’s been more like 30-40%.
Elaine Norton tries to combine frontline help with longer term education in a fight to break the cycle of poverty. (Image: William Lailey / SWNS)
“After , we noticed increased need, not just from people on benefits, but also people in working families needing extra help and support. People often think of those in need as people on benefits, but people in work also need help.”
What has struck those running lifeline services is the indiscriminate nature of poverty, both financial and food, with every part of the age spectrum touched.
Ms Norton said: “The cost of utilities has had a massive impact on people – so many have got to make a choice between putting their heating on or buying food.
“Another factor is a lack of budgeting skills and knowing how to manage money. I’ve got a real passion to introduce that from an earlier stage, so young people get it into their heads how important those practical life skills are – it’s about early prevention.
“With a lot of families, I’ll sit down and do budgeting plans with them. It’s about how we can improve life skills and cut down the cost of outgoings.
“The types of people we see vary all the time. There’s a lot of judgement and stereotypes about people that access food bank services.
“The Tesco Winter Food Collection is important because a lot of charities are dependent on the generosity of other people. If we didn’t receive donations, we’d struggle to offer the services we do.
“We can all do a little bit, but together that makes a big difference. We can’t do everything, but we can all do something.”