Bosses at Farnham Food Bank have outlined expansion plans to the town’s MP amid worries about benefit cuts and a rising demand for help.

Demand for the service has nearly doubled since Covid with FFB now helping out 2,700 people a year compared to 1,400 half a decade ago.

The cost of living crisis is hitting hard with many requesting a handout as they struggle to pay the bills.

And that, coupled with government plans to cut £5billion from the welfare system, has prompted the FFB to look into opening an out-of-hours service to complement their current operation on Union Road.

Fiona Brooks, FFB project manager, and David McNeight, FFB benefits and debt advisor, gave Gregory Stafford MP the lowdown on the food bank and issues facing the service last Friday morning.

Mr Stafford learned the FFB offers more than handouts as staff and volunteers have one-on-one chats with users with the aim of directing them towards groups and organisations that can help.

But they’ve seen a change in the type of clientele since Covid, with the cost-of-living crisis hitting hard.

Fiona said: “A lot of our users are worried about the cuts, especially people being on no or low income, because what they’ve got at the moment isn’t enough to see them through the month sometimes.”

Mr McNeight said: “Pre-Covid a lot of our users came to us as a result of something bad, like through having health issues, a break-up, or losing their jobs.

“What we’re seeing now is people are struggling because there’s just not enough money to pay the bills, particularly if there’s just one person working.”

He added: “We also know the support services around mental health and social care are under pressure and waiting lists are longer, so it often takes longer to treat their underlying issues and their debt grows.”

Mr Stafford, who brought two large shopping bags of donated food, is equally in the dark over what cuts are proposed but sympathised with users.

He said: “It’s not clear how the government is going to do it and we’ll have to wait until their statement.

“I think it will take some months to work out but in that period obviously there’s going to be uncertainties. But obviously the ultimate aim is to get people back to work.”

Mr Stafford heard the church has been “very generous” to the FFB in letting them distribute food from Farnham Vineyard. The FFB also has warehouses in Wrecclesham and Hale but with demand showing no sign of receding, there may soon be an appeal to find an additional premises, ideally in the town centre, to run an out of hours service.

In the meantime the FFB could do with stocking up on a variety of products with supplies of instant mash, sponge puddings, jelly, tinned meat and vegetables – but no sweetcorn, please – running low.

Ladies deodorant and shampoo is also wanted, to contact FFB email [email protected] or call 07901 581539.