Bishop's attack on need for foodbanks

Publishing the findings of a research project into the foodbank networks in his Sheffield diocese, the Rt Rev Steven Croft said: “I think it’s disgraceful that so many people are relying on foodbanks in 21st-century Britain. 

“We shouldn’t be aiming for a society where foodbanks are accepted as part of a system of social security.”

Mr Croft’s study found there were up to 60 organisations handing out food parcels or similar support in South Yorkshire.

In Rotherham, there are 24 outlets drawing on a total of 16 groups overseen by the Rotherham Food in Crisis Partnership.

Those surveyed all agreed that relieving hunger should be the responsibility of national government.

Mr Croft added: “Why do people need food banks in modern Britain?  

“We have food in abundance - enough to waste in most of our homes. 

“There are many different reasons but top of the list in every survey are delays or errors in paying benefits, problems with disability benefits, or the application of benefit sanctions.

“It is important to understand that something can be done about most of these reasons.”

The local research was conducted as a response to the national Feeding Britain Inquiry, which was set up by the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Hunger and Food Poverty in 2014 to investigate the reasons behind the large rise in the use of foodbanks.

Mr Croft added: “I believe that Christians have a responsibility to care for those who are vulnerable and marginalised. 

“Yet we have an obligation to challenge Government policy where this is either causing food poverty or making the problem worse. 

“Foodbanks should not and cannot be a permanent or adequate substitute for the statutory provision of a proper safety net for the most vulnerable.”

“Some of the recent changes appear to be target driven, resulting in hardship and distress for people who fail to meet the expected criteria for genuine reasons.” 

The Diocese of Sheffield is now writing to every MP in the area with the findings and a final copy of the report.