Bradford: Benefits and use of food banks has increased since 2019

With the general election campaign underway, it’s no surprise that one of the key issues dominating the headlines so far is the cost of living.

One constituency that has felt the pinch more than most is Bradford West. It has the most people claiming benefits in Yorkshire and ranks eighth among constituencies in the UK, according to the latest Office for National Statistics figures.

This difficulty is reflected in the number of people in the constituency who rely on food banks.

“Pre-Covid we were feeding around 4,500 people, whereas last year we fed 16,000, so that’s tripled,” said Josie Barlow, manager at Bradford Central Foodbank.

In June 2019, 4,035 people were claiming state benefits in Bradford West – but this number doubled over the next five years.

Proportionately, the percentage of Bradford West’s population claiming benefits is currently 11% – the fourth highest rate in the country.

It is closely followed by Bradford East, where 10.5% of the local population claim benefits.

“If you’re on universal credit, that shows you’re on a low income, whether it’s unemployment or you’re not earning a lot of money,” explains Ms Barlow, who says the current data “just shows the level of deprivation” that exists in town.

Aqib Khan, 32, from Bradford, has two children, aged three and 16 months.

He has been visiting Bradford Central Foodbank since losing his job at Marks and Spencer.

“I’ve seen a lot of things get worse because there are no jobs,” says Aqib, who worked steadily for three years before losing his job.

“Click for jobs – but the benefits don’t give you that much. When you have children, it is very difficult to provide for them.

“Everything is very difficult and people are left with limited money to support their families.”

Rebecca Mytom, 34, lost her administrative role in December and has so far been unable to find another job. She finds that similar roles now require a degree.

“We have a budget, but this month, unfortunately, we didn’t have enough to cover food,” she says.

“I’ve applied for a lot of administrative jobs – because that’s what I’ve done since I was 16 – but I can’t get anywhere because they want bachelor’s degrees.”

“Bradford has long been one of the most deprived areas in the country – with high levels of poverty driven by a range of factors including a lack of good quality employment opportunities, old and energy inefficient housing and above average levels of . of health,” says Helen Barnard, director of policy and research at the Trussell Trust.

“All of this means that the inadequacy of social security is having a huge impact on the people of Bradford – leaving many unable to afford essential goods.

“Our recent statistics show that last year, food banks in the Trussell Trust network in Bradford distributed more than 24,500 emergency food parcels to people experiencing hardship in Bradford.

“That’s a staggering 165% increase on five years ago – and our figures are only part of the picture, with many independent food banks or community projects operating in the area to support people.”