A GROUP FORMED to look at why more people are being forced into using food banks has held its first meeting this week.
Representatives from several poverty organisations and charities have met under the chairmanship of Reverend Dr Martin Johnstone, who is secretary of the Church of Scotland’s Church and Society Council.
The group have been asked to make recommendations to the Scottish Government by February next year on methods that could be used to reduce the reliance on food banks. The formation of the groups comes as the Trussell Trust have shown that 117,689 people – including 36,114 children – picked up a three-day supply of groceries for Scottish food banks over the last year.
The meeting coincides with Challenge Poverty Week, which runs through until October 23.
Peter Kelly, director of Poverty Alliance, said: “The growth of food banks in recent years is the surest sign that we need to do more to tackle poverty in Scotland.
“Challenge Poverty week is aimed at highlighting that solutions to poverty exist and the work that volunteers do in providing emergency food aid shows that people are committed to tackling food poverty.”