15th October 2024
MP Neil Duncan-Jordan visits Poole Food Bank+
Labour MP Neil Duncan-Jordan made a special visit to Poole Food Bank+ to see firsthand the incredible work being done by volunteers and staff.
He met with Ian, Poole Food Bank+ Manager, and Alistair, Faithworks CEO, as they discussed the challenges being faced by many in our local communities.
There has been over a 10% increase in those over the age of 65 needing Poole Food Bank+
Topics included adequate support for those over the age of 65, a topic close to the MP’s heart, having recently asked the Secretary of State if the government will set up a task force to tackle pensioner poverty.
MP Duncan-Jordan said:
“The work you’re doing here is really important. I wish you didn’t exist in the sense that we didn’t have people [in food crisis] … but we do… and people like yourselves are helping.”
Families make up 80% of those coming to the Food Bank
The informal meeting was hosted in the family-friendly, café styled venue of the Food Bank, providing an opportunity to also meet with the Community Money Advice (CMA) team.
Now embedded within every Faithworks’ supported Food Bank, the CMA teams provide free debt advice and budget support to those coming through the doors.
Ian Stoney, Poole Food Bank+ Manager explained:
“Food crisis doesn’t exist in isolation, there’s maybe 100 other reasons why that’s actually come about – debt, housing, homelessness, all kinds of reasons.”
As the conversation continued, MP Duncan-Jordan reflected that:
“Dignity is a very important principle in all of this.”
At Faithworks, we are passionate that every person be treated with the utmost dignity by ensuring that each person that comes through our doors is listened to and treated as an individual.
Holistic support is vital to ensure that underlying issues can be addressed with the right solutions, enabling people to overcome food crisis as quickly as possible and without shame.
Poole Food Bank+ will continue to keep MP Duncan-Jordan up to date with the ongoing challenges faced by those coming through our doors, in order to inform his work with the government in addressing some of these issues.
