Winchester News Online
Rising living costs push more families to seek food aid
“I wish food banks didn’t exist at all and that people had a welfare system that met their needs.”
The head of the Southampton food bank says that the need people have for emergency food parcels has increased, along with the cost of living.
As the colder season approaches, more and more people find themselves in a food crisis and in need of assistance.
Volunteers here in Southampton say that the help they provide “unfortunately isn’t enough to get people back into an even keel”.
These concerns also underline the issues they’ve been having with fewer donations.
The volunteers say they are seeing a shortfall in donations in comparison to previous years.
With demand going up, and donations going down, charities are forced to sometimes turn people away.
The nature of food banks is shifting with recent budgetary changes.
“It’s no longer just people out of work; many recipients are in work but struggling to get by,” said one volunteer.
The challenge beneficiaries face is “the classic”, according to one volunteer, “heating your home versus eating”.
Across the UK, the Trussel Trust’s network distributed nearly 2.9 million emergency food parcels.
Meanwhile, figures shared by the Food Foundation and the government show that 13.6% of households reported moderate to severe food insecurity.
It’s not just food donations that charities find themselves in need of, but also toiletries and warm clothes such as coats and winter boots.
Despite all these challenges, volunteers say it’s the people and their faith that makes them keep going, and the hope that maybe in the future food banks won’t be needed anymore.
A man threw a chair and threatened bystanders in the centre of Gosport on Friday.
Police say the man, who was behaving aggressively, threw the chair on the ground and shouted threats at nearby shoppers before running away. No one was injured.
It happened just before noon, outside a Greggs Bakery on the High Street.
Hampshire Police say the man was white, bald and in his late 40s. He was wearing a baseball cap and a grey hoodie.
Officers are asking anyone who saw the incident to contact them.
Twelve people were arrested after 350 anti-migrant protestors clashed with police overnight in Gosport following reports of a small boat landing in the area.
A small number of officers needed medical treatment following the protests near Walpole car park.
Assistant Chief Constable Simon Dodds said: “Violence and criminal damage have no part in peaceful protest, our position on this has been clear that we will investigate thoroughly and take robust action against anyone responsible.
“Our officers did not deserve to be assaulted as they worked incredibly diligently on Sunday to ensure the safety of everyone in the area.”
Police had banned face coverings and had issued a dispersal order ahead of the protests across Gosport.
Those arrested were held on suspicion of assaulting officers or being drunk and disorderly.
The protest marks an increase in tensions within the UK after protests at Portsmouth, Taunton, Basingstoke and Glasgow in recent months.
Gosport Reform UK councilor Paul Carter told GB News: “If you think about this last night, no one really knew what was happening… I think a lot of people are really worried.”
People in Romsey are being warned that the town’s recycling centre will be closing for a month for repairs.
The closure of Casbrook recycling centre will take place from 12 October to 12 November.
The council says that repairs are essential to keep the site safe, after heavy vehicles damaged the tarmac beneath waste containers.
Councillor Kirsty North, Hampshire County Council’s deputy leader, said: “We are investing in essential improvements to preserve the surface of Casbrook HWRC (Bunny Lane) and ensure the facility continues to serve residents safely and effectively for many years to come.
“I thank residents for their patience during these works and confirm that capacity is available at nearby HWRCs to ensure residents that usually use Bunny Lane, can still dispose of their waste during this time.”
Locals have been advised to use alternative centres in Winchester and Eastleigh while the repairs take place.
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