THE NUMBER of people relying on emergency food aid in the Borders has increased by more than half since last year.

The Central Borders Citizens Advice Bureau, revealed that between April and September this year, they referred 373 people to local food banks, compared to 211 in the same period last year.

And, they predict the situation will worsen in the coming weeks, as people will be spending more money on bills for gas and electricity in the colder weather, and therefore have even less to spend on food.

Reverend Philip Blackledge of St Peter's Church in Galashiels, helps run the food bank network run by a number of the town's churches.

He says that last year there was one or two people a day coming through their door, but now they get about five or six needing emergency food every day.

“We would probably never see less than 35 a week. And being realistic, that's only the people that can afford to get a bus to Galashiels. There will be many more than that who don't access the food bank that will need to.

"And there will be people in the Borders who access food banks other than ours, so the number will be much higher.

“Not to put too fine a point on it, it used to be people who have had a bit of a chaotic life and struggle a little to get themselves sorted, and need some help. Now it's people from across the board and a lot are young families with children.

“The problem is that the benefit cuts see people who are on reliant on the system for a bit off extra help, suddenly having their benefits taken off them.

“If you're living on the breadline and you're very carefully budgeting every week, and then suddenly you get £30 taken off you, that's your food budget just gone.”

“Food poverty doesn't just affect unemployed people but the working poor who are suffering because of government cuts.”

Overall, the number of food bank referrals in Scotland has increased to over 60,000 in the last quarter and 44% of these were for benefit delays and cuts.

And as we get deeper into winter with Christmas just around the corner, the pinch will be felt even more.

CAB Manager Melanie Nairn said: “The festive period (and winter generally) can also leave people struggling with fuel poverty as heating bills go up. We see clients who struggle to make ends meet and therefore take on seasonal jobs to help increase income.

“But, with insecure contracts and often no guarantee of certain hours of work, the constantly changing income can have a knock on effect on benefits such as tax credits - because HMRC have to be informed of any change in income – and this leads under-payments which puts strain on household finances.

“UK Government welfare cuts, benefit sanctions, and low pay are among the factors pushing more and more people into food poverty and increasing the demand for food-banks.”

“We always gear up for a busy time in January and February because after Christmas, that’s when the store cards and catalogue debts tend to mount up and people have difficulty managing the repayments.”

To get in touch with Central Borders CAB cal 01896 753889.