Rising numbers using food pantry lead to fears over further cuts by Falkirk Council

dailyrecord.co.uk:

The rising numbers of people using a local food pantry is leading to concerns about the cost of the service which will become even more vital in the winter months.

Dennyloanhead Community Hall, which provides support to vulnerable people in their area, receives £11,000 from Falkirk Council towards its overall running costs of £40,000.

Members of Falkirk Council's external Scrutiny Committee heard on Thursday that the hall - formerly known as the Archibald Russell Centre - is doing a vital job and has been operating an emergency food provision to over 63 families per week from 1 April 2021 to 31 March 2022. Read more: Falkirk could ban fireworks in certain areas due to new legislation That is an increase of 20 per cent on last year's figures and the report to members said that feedback from Centre users suggests this will continue to increase as the cost-of-living increases take affect during winter 2022.Mark Meechan, Community Learning and Development manager, said: "The feedback the committee are getting is that people are very worried about the future and what they can spend and they are having to reduce their heating and electricity."A number of people are reporting that they are switching everything off in the evening so they are not keeping stuff running."He told councillors that the committee was now starting to look at how to cope with the cost of the increased demand that is expected to hit over the winter and they have been speaking to other food banks about how they will manage that.The hall itself is also facing an increase in its electricity and gas costs of 30 per cent, which they will also need to find funding for.Before Covid-19 hit, Dennyloanhead Community Hall provided many activities that were forced