Darlington Council urged to rethink its foodbank support
Jonathan Dulston, leader of Darlington Conservatives, said the news that King’s Foodbank had significantly scaled back its operation should act as a wake-up call for Darlington Borough Council.
The service, which operates out of King’s Church on Whessoe Road, provided more than 125,000 free meals to people last year but saw its donations dry up despite increased demand.
Food parcels are now available just one day a week for people referred to the service by social services and other organisations.
The Labour-Liberal Democrat administration was criticised by Tory colleagues for being on the “back foot” with the issue, but said it swiftly stepped up to provide support. Money from the council’s Household Support Fund has been allocated to keep it afloat.
Council Leader Stephen Harker said: “When the foodbank came to us, they were starting to implement the decision that they had made. It was within about three days that we went back to them with the funding, and it means they can deliver the reduced service.
“They will continue to be the biggest foodbank provider within Darlington, which they have been for many years now.”
Despite the funding shortage, the foodbank continues to receive a healthy amount of donations from generous residents, businesses and local charities. People using the service repeatedly praise the camaraderie and dedication of all the volunteers who go out of their way to help people struggling financially and mentally.
Cllr Dulston said: “This is now an opportunity for us to rethink how our foodbanks across the borough work together in partnership.
“I’m going to work to get foodbank leaders around the table to discuss how we can ensure foodbank provision is maintained across the borough, but also rethink how we deliver a universal foodbank programme across the town with solid information sharing.
“Believe it or not, there are people who abuse the foodbanks, and this will be a great opportunity to ensure we can cut that out and maintain a good, credible service.
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“We were promised by Labour that the world was going to change, everything would be fine, and the cost of living would ease. That’s just not what we’re seeing on the doorsteps.
“Now more than ever, we need services like King’s Church, we need foodbanks to be there and ready to serve people in real need.”
Cllr Harker hit back, however, blaming the Tories for increasing the need for foodbanks in communities like Darlington.
He said: “It’s rich of councillor Dulston to have a go at Labour. The consequence of the last few years of the Conservative Government means the levels of poverty have gone through the roof.
“Trying to blame Labour for what’s happening is a bit rich. We are where we are because of the actions his governments did and didn’t do while in power.”