'I can't believe they're looking at cutting it again because I don't know how anybody is going to live': Fears that benefit cuts could push some over the edge
Like many food banks, the Hope Centre is suffering from a drop in donations due to the cost of living crisis and Denise Hawley, who runs it, is worried about what impact further benefit curbs could have."We're probably feeding over 100 people a week and we're only open four and half hours a week, it's incredible. And we're short of everything, food that's tinned, packets, anything we can give out.
"Obviously the crisis is effecting everyone, including the people that give and we're really conscious of that so we are grateful for every single tin."Ben Crowe, 30, started receiving Universal Credit after he was made redundant from his warehouse job. He's been using the food bank for the last few months.
"Basic essentials like milk, it was 99p, now you're lucky to get a four-pinter for £1.50. The price of essentials is going through the roof. "If they cut any more I don't know what I'd do, some people would have to revert to stealing," he said. "I'm thankful for places like this food bank. Without them I'd go hungry and I dread to think what I'd have to do to get by."