BOURNEMOUTH Foodbank has set up an urgent fundraising appeal as they brace for a significant rise in demand following the end of the furlough scheme and end of the £20 ‘uplift’ in Universal Credit.

In Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole, nearly 26,000 households are in receipt of Universal Credit and will lose the additional £20 starting from this week. This is the biggest overnight cut to social security since World War II.

So far this year, Bournemouth Foodbank has provided over 16,000 meals for some of the poorest families across the town. However, with the changes in Universal Credit and the end of the furlough scheme expected to push more people into financial hardship this month, the charity is appealing for charitable donations to help provide emergency food parcels.

Last month it was revealed that the BCP Council area is ranked the third highest in the country for people struggling to afford food according to recent findings from Food Foundation and Sheffield University.

Foodbanks are concerned that families are facing a financial cliff-edge and will be forced to choose whether to feed themselves or heat their homes as winter sets in.

Millie Earl, fundraising officer at Bournemouth Foodbank said: “This is a really worrying – the combined impact of the end of the furlough scheme and the cut in Universal Credit and Working Tax Credit means we’re looking at a massive rise in demand over the next couple of months as the poorest families struggle to adjust their budgets.

“The Foodbank is a lifeline for the most vulnerable people across Bournemouth facing crisis. We often hear stories from families having to choose between heating their home and feeding themselves – we believe that’s a choice no one should have to make. ”

To mitigate the impact of the Universal Credit cut, the Chancellor Rishi Sunak has announced that the Government is introducing a £500m “household support fund”, administered by local councils. However, this has been heavily criticised by charities fighting poverty across the UK.

To make a donation to the Foodbank’s Urgent Appeal visit bournemouth.foodbank.org.uk.