Cambridge City Foodbank calls for support to ensure every local has access to the essentials

Councillors in the city are set to vote on providing extra support for residents in Cambridge living in need. It comes as Cambridge City Foodbank says it's currently facing record need for its support.

The vote, which would be a boost for families living without the essentials, take place on November 28. The motion asks the Council to support Cambridge City Foodbank, Trussell and Joseph Rowntree Foundation’s call for an Essentials Guarantee.

The measure would ensure that the basic rate of Universal Credit at least covers the cost of essentials like food, household bills and travel. For the first time in Cambridge City Foodbank’s 14 year history, the majority of its visitors are requiring long-term support rather than one-off visits.

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This increase in the level of need has seen the Foodbank distribute more than 17,000 emergency food parcels in the last 12 months, a 74% increase from the same period in 2021/2022. Currently, there are 9.3 million people in the UK experiencing food insecurity, and it is estimated that without action, this number will increase by 425,000 by 2026/2027.

Cambridge City Foodbank CEO Steve Clay said: “Over the last 12 months, we’ve faced an unprecedented and frankly, unsustainable rise in need for our support. Traditionally, food banks are there for those in short-term crisis in need of support, but this is no longer the case for us.

"If meaningful change is not secured through the Guarantee Our Essentials campaign, the level of need we’ve faced over the last 12 months will continue to grow which, simply put, is not something we can accommodate. For the sake of our visitors we desperately need change and we call on Cambridge City Council to do the right thing and support this motion.”

Councillor Elliot Tong who will raise the motion said: “Cambridge is widely considered to be the most unequal city in the UK. Every day, I see more and more families struggling to pay the bills.

"Many of these residents are currently in work, helping to provide the important goods and services that Cambridge relies on, but don't receive a fair share of the staggering amount of wealth that is generated through scientific and technological research within the city. Every single person, working or otherwise, deserves to be treated with respect, given the necessities needed to live here comfortably.”

If approved, the motion would instruct the Leader of the Council to write to MP for Cambridge, Daniel Zeichner, MP for St Neots and Mid Cambridgeshire, Ian Sollom and MP for South Cambridgeshire, Pippa Heylings, to request that they write to the Chancellor and Secretary to the Department for Work and Pensions in favour of the introduction of an Essentials Guarantee.

If you are interested in supporting Cambridge City Foodbank, click here.