Renfrewshire Foodbank’s Holistic Support for People Experiencing Food Poverty

That the Parliament commends Renfrewshire Foodbank staff and volunteers for working with a range of partner organisations as part of a holistic approach to help reduce the impacts of poverty experienced by people referred to use its distribution centres, such as the one operating at Renfrew Baptist Church; understands that, with the help of more than 90 volunteers, the service provides food for balanced, nutritious and culturally appropriate diets, and issued 9,300 emergency food parcels to local families between 1 April 2020 and 31 March 2021; notes that SIM cards loaded with 20GB data and free calls and texts are provided for service users experiencing digital exclusion; appreciates that Renfrewshire Council’s Advice Works employees are always on hand at the distribution centres to provide confidential and independent advice on money, debt and benefits issues, and that people requiring advice about managing energy bills are signposted to Renfrewshire Citizens Advice Bureau; welcomes the foodbank’s plan to expand the reach of its mobile service, which currently discretely serves Bridge of Weir villagers, to reach into other rural locations, and understands that reports from the foodbank's management state that the UK Government’s removal of the £20 Universal Credit uplift has resulted in increased numbers of people using its services.