"Never thought I would be here" - More desperate people turn to food bank in Epsom

On Friday, a tight-knit group of dedicated volunteers handed out supplies to feed 11 people on the breadline at Epsom Methodist Church.

As they were packing away, food bank manager Jonathan Lees, who was the Liberal Democrat parliamentary candidate in 2005 and 2010, said he was worried about future changes to benefits.

Mr Lees said: "People are very grateful. We see a lot of tears. People are very moved that there’s somebody willing to listen, someone willing to care.

"My desire is that we can shut all the food banks in town, that there’s no need for them. Unfortunately with the new Government, I can’t see that happening."

Epsom's Conservative MP Chris Grayling applauded the work of food banks - which number more than 400 across the country - and said in an ideal world there would be no need for them.

But he said food banks are relatively new here and countries such as Germany, with lower levels of unemployment than Britain, have far more.

He said: "I don’t accept food bank usage is caused by reforms to the welfare state aimed to make it better, to get people back into work."

Food bank manager Jonathan Lees on Friday

People from all walks of life, including the homeless, families and city workers who have lost their jobs, visit the Epsom and Ewell Foodbank. The most common refrain is "I never thought I would be here".

Lesley Neville, who has worked in social housing for 30 years, said: "We have people who have fallen into crisis very quickly because they have no idea of benefits that are available.

"One lady, who had cancer, she fell into crisis so fast because she had to give up her job, she had no idea where money was coming from and she couldn't keep up with it."

Volunteer Gillian Nichols, 50, said she belongs to Generation church in Ewell, where the food bank is based, and church members have helped her during tough times.

She said: "If I did not have that I would have been in the same position our clients are in. I know what it is like to live right on the line."

Ms Nichols, who is a trained counsellor, said: "I had someone a few weeks ago, they were really desperate mentally and I put them in the right direction.”  

After clients pick up their food, the volunteers ask if there is anything they would like them to pray about. More than 90 per cent say yes.

Volunteer Keri Marshall added: "Quite often when they come here, they have explored every other option.

"They have tried everything else, they didn’t get anywhere. So quite often people will give anything a go at the point."

The food bank also has distribution centres in Ewell, Banstead, Leatherhead and Tadworth.

Facts about Epsom and Ewell Foodbank:

• The food bank, part of the Trussell Trust network, has seen an increase of 10 per cent in the number of people it has fed over the last financial year.
• It gave emergency food supplies to more than 2,500 people in 2014/15, up from 2,280 in 2013/14.
• Across the country, the network of over 400 food banks run by the Trussell Trust saw an increase of 19 per cent over the same period.
• In Epsom, low income accounted for 32 per cent of referrals, benefit delays led to 21 per cent, debt 10 per cent and benefit changes resulted in 10 per cent.
• Since opening in October 2012, it has fed more than 5,500 people who have been referred by various agencies including social services, CABs and housing associations.

Current food shortages: Long-life fruit juice and milk, tinned sponge and rice puddings, washing up liquid, sanitary towels and size five and six nappies, sugar, shampoo and conditioner, deodorant, dried milk, shaving foam, dog food, washing powder and coffee. 

• To help email foodbank@generation.org.uk or call 0208 786 8221.