'The fact is there are some people who don't have a choice' - Shropshire foodbanks ready to help as winter descends

As food banks have become an uncomfortably familiar aspect of modern life, the services provided by groups have expanded way beyond just helping people to put a meal on the table.

Be it difficulties accessing benefits, dealing with energy companies, no-fault evictions, or finding yourself the wrong side of the pension credit line, increasing numbers of services are being developed to provide people with the kind of care that can address complex and difficult reasons for their situation.

And it's not just those on benefits needing the help, as food banks continue to report the struggles of people who are working, but find low wages scarcely enough to cover their overheads.

With Christmas around the corner and the temperatures plummeting, the demand is only set to increase.

Liz Jermy, from Oswestry and Borders Food Bank, said they had already given out 35 tonnes of food since April - amounting to 3,818 food parcels.

There will be no let-up over the coming months either, with Liz explaining that by the end of the financial year the number of food parcels provided will likely double, to more than 7,500.

She said that although the nature of people needing help has changed, including people in work, as well as those in work but also receiving some benefits, the type of support on offer has also shifted.

She said: "While we do see that increase, the way we support people has improved in that we have a community advisor who can talk through people's finances with them, we have The Samaritans, we have mental health support."

She added: "We are supporting people with debt, welfare needs and we particularly don't want pensioners local to Oswestry to be going without this year."

Liz explained that Oswestry Town Council had provided the food bank with a dedicated fund of £5,000 to support the town's pensioners who will struggle after losing access to their winter fuel payment.

Liz explained how complex combinations of difficulties can cause overwhelming problems for people who find themselves needing help.

She said: "The demand is remaining high and the needs people are coming in with are all related to not having enough money - that could be because of the cost of living, because utilities bills have gone up, because mortgages have gone up, because the cost of food has gone up - because wages in Shropshire are relatively low.

"All of those reasons are bringing people to us whether they are in work or being supported by benefits."

She added: "We do see families with members of the family working, making an income but not making ends meet.

"We have got people using the food bank regularly because they have to, and that is not because they are not doing everything they can to afford the cost of living - they are having to use us.

"The fact is there are some people who don't have a choice."

Amongst the help offered by the organisation are cash vouchers which can be used directly on utilities on paypoint to stop people being cut off at the coldest time of year.

Liz said that the impact of the situation on people who require help can be huge, with many suffering significant mental health issues as a result of being stuck in what feels like a 'paralysing' situation.

She said: "People who are living that struggle, just in the last week we have had three people who said they felt suicidal and it is so worrying when you hear people say 'it is too much and I can't deal with it because I can't see a way forward'.

"We will sit there and say 'we are going to do this with you, you are not on your own and we are going to make a plan'. That is why it is so good we have to mental health workers here because they can provide that help."

She added: "Hearing those stories and how that worry is impacting people, it is literally there all the time, you do not get a break from worrying. It is not like 'it is Saturday, I won't worry,' you still have the bill to pay on the Monday."

Liz urged anyone caught up in difficulties to contact their local foodbank for help and support.

She said: "Don't think you have to do this by yourself. There is a whole community of groups and services and support that is out there. Come to us, go to another one and there is a network of support that can help."

Liz explained that the controversial cut to the winter fuel allowance for pensioners was also having an effect.

She said: "We are definitely hearing people say 'I am not going to get it this year therefore I am only going to be putting the heating on at the weekend' - so it's a real thing."

She added: "The grant we have had from Oswestry Town Council will allow us to help a group of those people and we think the town council has done an amazing thing by providing that support."