The number of people left in desperate need of food aid has doubled in West Dunbartonshire due to the devastating impact of Universal Credit.

Foodbank charity Food For Thought claim they have been left struggling to cope with the demand to help those in financial crisis.

Staff at the organisation, based in St Augustine’s Episcopal Church in Dumbarton, are currently giving out 12 parcels of emergency food aid every day to those in need.

Prior to the full roll out of the controversial benefits system in West Dunbartonshire on November 28, volunteers say up to six food packages would be handed out.

The shocking increase in referrals has now left the charity fighting to keep their shelves stocked, costing them up to £200 per week.

And a spokesman from Food For Thought says those being plunged into poverty are directly linked to the new one payment system – which replaces six separate benefits.

He said: “We have had a spike since January and that is a result of Universal Credit (UC).

“Before Christmas we were giving out five or six parcels a day and now we’re averaging 12 food parcels per day.

“It doesn’t sound a lot but we are open five days a week and we also run a community kitchen two days a week so in terms of our supply it is difficult for us to keep it up.

“Universal Credit fully rolled out in West Dunbartonshire just before Christmas so we feel there is a direct link there. We predicted that this would happen.

“Ninety percent of the people who come through our doors have been sanctioned as a result of Universal Credit.”

Volunteers at Food For Thought previously said they were “preparing for an onslaught” of those in need after it was revealed new UC claimants would be left with no benefits for over a month throughout the festive period.

The organisation, which also runs a community kitchen at the church hall every Wednesday and Thursday, was able to cope with the demand due to donations handed in by the community over Christmas.

However, the donations are now all gone and volunteers are having to stock up by shopping in Dumbarton supermarkets in order to continue providing their vital service.

The spokesman added: “We were fortunate to receive a lot of donations at Christmas time but we are now into March and those donations are gone. We are now at a point where we are having to keep spending money in supermarkets just to keep up with the demand.

They are now appealing to residents in West Dunbartonshire to donate if they can.

“We don’t have anyone giving us money at the moment so we are sometimes surviving on donations of £10 or £20 from people who come in.

“Having to pay this money out is going to have an effect on the service which we provide, as we are talking about £150-£200 every week just to keep our shelves stocked.

“We are happy to take any donations from the community whether it be food or money which we can spend on our food supply as we do not receive any money from anywhere else so we do need the help and support.”

A DWP spokeswoman said: “Universal Credit is a force for good, helping people into work faster than the old system, and we’ve made significant improvements to make sure people can access money quicker.

“Less than three percent of people subject to requirements for their benefits are under sanction, and only when they haven’t met them without good reason.”

Anyone wishing to help can drop donations off at St Augustine’s Episcopal Church, the Coffee Station at Dumbarton Central train station and Crafts4U in Loch Lomond Galleries.

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