Southport food banks served nearly 5,000 people last year

A record number of people in Southport, including thousands of children, were forced to use a food bank in the town last year.

The shocking figures revealed by Southport charity Compassion Acts say that more than 1,700 children and over 3,000 adults came through their doors in search of food and essentials in 2022.

Many of these people would have been without other essentials as well including personal hygiene items, suitable clothes, and even a safe and warm place to live.

The figures are 20% higher than in 2021.

A Compassion Acts spokesperson said”

“It’s also nearly a 20% increase from 2021. To us, this demonstrates that the cost-of-living crisis is pushing more people into poverty, and that too little is being done to stop this from happening.

“What it doesn’t demonstrate is the real-life impact this has on people in terms of their physical and mental health, their wider families, and our communities as a whole. Not to mention that these are only the people we know about who are struggling. Despite the very best efforts, stigma and shame still exist around poverty, and we know that there are many people who do not reach out for help even when they need it.

“In some cases, people are fortunate to have family, friends, church, or other communities they can turn to for support. (There are also other independent food aid providers in the area, whose data we don’t hold.) In many other cases, people simply suffer in silence.“