Coventry foodbank manager 'frightened' as monthly running costs hit £4,000

[dutchman]

She said demand has grown hugely for the foodbank and charity in Willenhall



A Coventry foodbank is "struggling" to stay afloat after seeing bills soar as the cost of living crisis deepens throughout the country. Lorna Williams, who runs The Betty Ennis Foundation Charity, described the price rises as "frightening" with monthly running costs having hit £4,000.

Named after local heroine Betty Ennis, who passed away in August 2019, the foodbank and charity shop was opened in her honour in December 2020, reports the Mirror. However, Lorna has said that the Willenhall-based charity is becoming increasingly difficult to run as costs soar.

Manager Lorna, 28, said: “It's very frightening and emotional. We look at our foodbank and wonder how we can help people, with the amount of food we've got.

“It's difficult running a charity shop. People think you have financial backing from other avenues. We are the little guys that people assume will get by, but it is very, very difficult. Our volunteers are fantastic but they are struggling the same as everyone else.”

Lorna said the charity shop is grappling with increasing bills, with business costs of £4,000 a month even before paying its two members of staff. Service fees have risen by £100 a month. “We asked why and they said because of Brexit,” Lorna said.

Insurance bills have also risen by £300 a year to £1,100 now. Fortunately, the Betty Ennis Foundation Charity fixed its energy bills until 2024, so are not seeing the crippling bills facing other businesses. But Lorna said the charity shop and foodbank are caught between increased demand and decreased donations.

“We're not making enough, because people are not spending as much money at the moment. We have more footfall now, but people are not necessarily buying things,” Lorna explained.

“People are going away and saving up to buy things. That all started when the £20 uplift went away. 95% of our income comes from our charity shop and our fundraising.”

Lorna said the shop has now opened a community pantry, where people in need can take food without a foodbank referral. “It takes away embarrassment. Food deprivation is huge where we are, people are really struggling,” she said.

Lorna said she has noticed an increase in foodbank use from groups that never used to visit such as students and working families. “We've seen a massive increase. It's very frightening and emotional. We look at our food bank and wonder how we can help people, with the amount of food we've got,” she said.

One of the only ways the Betty Ennis has been able to meet demand is by donations from local Tesco stores. Lorna said people can donate to Betty Ennis by taking cash, food and items into the shop, or by emailing her at lorna@bettyennisfoundation.onmicrosoft.com.

“We need physical donations, and whatever you bring, we will make room,” Lorna added.

[rebbonk]

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Please don't tell me what Corbyn or Starmer would have done, as that is pure conjecture.

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