❌ Food banks shouldn't need to exist. ✔️ We should all be able to afford the essentials we need to survive and live with dignity. Repost if you agree!

Winter is especially difficult for people on the lowest incomes. Too many people are facing impossible decisions between putting food in the cupboards or turning the heating on. Food banks are doing all they can to support people, but they urgently need your help. 💚 If you can, please donate to give back hope this Christmas 👉

@foodbankNorwood This is a really important point!

@CatherineMosey This is an important point! Sky-rocketing rents are pushing people to food banks. To ensure everyone can afford a warm and safe home the government must increase Local Housing Allowance (LHA) in line with rents.

This is a really key point! The uplift definitely helped tackle hunger and hardship during the pandemic because it put more money into people pockets. So what we need now is to update our social security system to make sure payments, at the very least, cover the cost of essentials. 💚

RT @Helen_Barnard: Spent today with the amazing team at @southwarkfoodbk . Loved hearing more about all they’re doing to help people in pov…

@parmyarmy Really sorry to hear that things are tough right now John. If you ever need some support from us, please do reach out. You can find info on how to get help, including how to get emergency food support if you need it, here 👉👉 💚

@ThePAIGroup Thank you so much for supporting Llanelli Foodbank! 💚

@Lilbabyspice97 Really sorry to hear this. Disabled people need dignified support. 💚

@shawtty64 Really sorry to hear that things are tight right now. Everyone should have enough money in their pockets to afford food and other essentials. If you need some support from us, you can find information on how to get help here 👉 💚

@UnwantedLife_Me So true. Everyone should have enough money in their pockets to live with dignity. 💚

@callmecactus__ Hi Vee, sorry to hear you struggled to get support. Please do drop us a DM and we can let you know how best you can get support from your local food bank. 💚

@NPFoodbank Yes! Very well said. 👏

❗️ It needs to be said: comments like these are harmful. Disabled people are already far more likely to face hunger and hardship because their income doesn't cover the cost of essentials. The UK government must focus on providing people with dignified support.

@WOWpetition Absolutely. 🙌

Hi Ruby, this is a really important point. We want everyone to feel safe and able to access support from food banks if they need it. Food bank staff and volunteers will chat to people about their situations and support them in the best way they can, including offering deliveries and making sure the food provided meets peoples dietary requirements wherever possible. But also, food banks shouldn't need to exist because everyone should have the dignity of having enough money in their pockets for food and other essentials. That's why we're also campaigning in the long-term for dignified support for disabled people. 💚

Hi Dannii, right now the basic rate of Universal Credit is not based on an objective assessment of what the essentials actually cost. This is something we're campaigning to change - to help make sure everyone receiving Universal Credit has enough money to live with dignity. 💚 You can read more 👉

@Green_Yogi Hi Alison, Universal Credit can be people's only income. The basic rate is just £91 a week - and that's supposed to cover food, bills, toiletries and other essentials.