In the past, it has been suggested that demand has risen due to more people becoming aware of the service and more facilities being opened around the country. Reverend Willoughby, however, claims that this is not the case. He said:
“I am not convinced by the argument that we are seeing more people using the service because of great marketing. The reason why we opened this food bank was because we saw there was a need for it.”
Marketing materials are often required when a new Foodbank facility opens, to make sure people know of its existence. Printing companies in Stoke-on-Trent can be called on for such items, with many offering poster printing and flyer printing services at affordable prices.
Stoke-on-Trent’s Foodbank was established in May 2012 and has eight distribution centres around the city. More than 12,000 people have been given food by the centre since its launch.
The Government has been contacted by the Trussell Trust, which wants David Cameron to launch an inquiry to find out why demand has increased.
The Trust said that around 350,000 people received food packages in the six months leading up to September and that the number of people who needed help tripled when compared to 2012’s figure.
According to Reverend Willoughby, the demand has increased even more since April’s Welfare Reforms were put into action.