Food bank demand is on the rise as bills soar

dailyrecord.co.uk:

Renfrewshire residents have been forced into turning to foodbanks after steep gas and electricity price rises pushed them deeper into poverty.Bosses at Renfrewshire Foodbank say locals on the lowest incomes have been forced to find other ways to eat after the cost of stratospheric rises in domestic energy.Crystal Clayton, manager of Renfrewshire Foodbank, confirmed the service has faced increased demand, saying: "We have seen a lot more people."She told the Express: "In terms of the service there has been a large increase in the amount of people who are having to rely on us for help and I don't see that changing."It's becoming quite a big issue for people on low incomes, with the price of the fuel going up significantly, people are really struggling with heating or eating.

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Sign up to our newsletters here."If you put money in your meters, there's nothing left for food."It comes after an Age Scotland revealed that their figures suggest older people on fixed incomes will also be hit hard.Their data shows an estimated 220,000 households nationally will have insufficient income to meet the costs of food and drink, rent, council tax and utility bills.Age Scotland has warned rising bills and the increased cost of living will push older households into poverty and financial insecurity.They are calling on the Scottish, UK and newly-elected local governments to take urgent action in a bid to help older people.Age Scotland's Chief executive, Brian Sloan, said: “It’s scandalous so many older households are being left with no choice but to switch off their heating and reduce the amount of food they buy or risk falling