There’s been a lot in the news over recent weeks about the growing need for food banks. This unsettling theme was echoed in the release of research from Carers UK this week.
The study has identified that informal carers are twice as likely to have required the use of a food bank during lockdown.
Spouses and parents involved in the support of an elderly, disabled or ‘in need’ individual, have had to reach out for help at the appropriate resources in their community – in their thousands.
The startling figures – although not altogether surprising to my team and I, on the ground in the caring community in Suffolk – show that nationally, 100,000 had turned to the food banks since the start of the pandemic.
Some 229,000 also said that someone in their household had had to go hungry during this challenging time.
Of course, all this comes at the very time when unpaid carers are under more pressure than ever.
They may be finding income stretched, statutory care access limited, and perhaps a plethora of other challenges around education and career disruption, isolation and more.
While this picture isn’t such a comfortable one for many of us to think about, I believe it’s vital to acknowledge the circumstances in which so many in the caring fraternity are living. Much more needs to be done nationally to reverse the ever increasing trend of families falling into poverty and needing such support.
Locally, there is support available, through foodbanks and through the many wonderful voluntary sector organisations that exist within Suffolk, to help families in their time of need.
We at Suffolk Family Carers can help in many ways, whether signposting you to services, providing advice, referring to support within our organisation or elsewhere, or simply being a listening ear.
Today, I urge you to give us a call. Suffolk Family Carers want to ensure that hunger and scarcity of resource is not part of your world at this challenging time.
On a positive note, I was inspired and moved by the news that professional footballer Marcus Rashford had managed to generate a government u-turn around the issue of continuing to provide for free school meals throughout the summer holidays.
It is truly awful that in the 21st century many children go without meals, but it is uplifting that there are role models like Rashford who care and are determined to make a difference to society.
His achievement will help thousands of children, many of whom may be young carers, who would normally go without.
If you would like support or advice on how to get help with food or with other issues related to your caring role, please contact Suffolk Family Carers on hello@suffolkfamilycarers.org or 01473 835 477 and we will help you.
