Moray SNP News

MORAY FOODBANK SHOWING LEADERSHIP IN FIGHT AGAINST POVERTY, SAYS MSP

Richard Lochhead MSP has praised the efforts of the volunteers and staff at Moray Foodbank on their efforts to support local people facing financial hardship.

According to figures released by the Trussell Trust , Moray Foodbank distributed 2867 three-day emergency food supplies to people facing crisis, with 861 of those going to children.  The figures were released as the Trussell Trust published a report on Universal Credit and the financial difficulties the rollout is causing people across the country. 

Mr Lochhead has praised the local foodbank for their work in trying to support those in Moray who are struggling to make ends meet.

Moray’s MSP said:

“I think many people in Moray would be shocked at the level of hardship people in our communities are facing and just how difficult families are finding it to make ends meet.

“That the foodbank has distributed over 2800 emergency food packages last year, with over 800 of those being for children, really highlights the serious need to tackle poverty in our communities and for everyone to sit up and think what their role is and how they can take action to improve the lives of people in Moray.

“The report published by the Trussell Trust once again demonstrates that the UK Government’s harsh welfare policies are hitting families hard.  This comes not long after the Child Poverty Action Group in Scotland blamed the Tory’s benefit freeze for pushing more children into poverty, with figures suggesting that one in five children in Moray are currently living in poverty.

“The volunteers and staff at the foodbank in Moray are on the front line, working hard to support people in Moray who are bearing the brunt of these draconian policies, and they deserve a huge amount of credit for their efforts.  Those involved in the foodbank have really taken the lead in raising awareness of the hardship and poverty right here on our doorstep, and it is vital that all public agencies locally get being the aims of the Fairer Moray Form to develop a strategy to tackle poverty in our communities.”