More money is being pumped into a scheme which ensures hard hit families can get a decent meal as the knock-on effects of covid are felt and unemployment soars.
West Lothian Council Executive agreed to an application from the West Lothian Food Network for £324,800 to enable the network to support households facing food insecurity for the next six months to September.
The council agreed in February to set money aside at its annual budget to support the food network. The network was initially set up to counteract growing need from the roll-out of Universal Credit, and an increrasing number of families struggling to get access to food and started operating only weeks before the Covid lockdown hit last March.
In a report to the Executive Anti-Poverty Manager Elaine Nisbet said: “Council recognised that throughout 2020/21 the demand for food support delivered in partnership between the council and the third sector through the West Lothian Food Network had increased substantially.”
The report added: “Given the on-going Covid-19 pandemic, the 88 per cent increase in unemployment from February 2020 to January 2021, the proposed end of the furlough scheme in September 2021 and the reduction in hours worked for those in employment, it is expected that this demand will remain for some time. “
The network is co-ordinated by the West Lothian Food Bank and, since its inception, it has grown its membership from 26 community providers to 37, covering the whole of the county.
On average, the providers have distributed food to just over 4000 people each month with a combination of cooked food delivered to homes,food parcels, local pantries to go and collect food as well as providing toiletries, cleaning products, baby food and pet food.
More than 10O tonnes of food has been acquired for free from 38 sources across the private, public and Third Sector and 192 tonnes of food has been purchased through the funding from the council.
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