Foodbank donations received from West Ham United Supporter Services at Irons Supporting Foodbanks’s first matchday collection in December 2019 outside The London Stadium. Image: Irons Supporting Foodbanks
Newham Foodbanks are struggling with the demand caused by the cost-of-living crisis in the run-up to Christmas, according to front-line people who talked to Rising East.
“The current demand for foodbank support is unprecedented, we are hearing stories from more people who aren’t able to eat a decent meal a day,” said John Ratomski, the founder of Irons Supporting Food Banks which collects donations from West Ham United fans.
“Some foodbanks locally are now even opening their kitchens to local residents who haven’t eaten all day. People are really struggling to feed their families. We’re doing what we can to help in providing food parcels but these are really tough times for more and more.”
Ratomski told Rising East, “We supply a chocolate treat for a child at Christmas. Many of the children are from families that can’t afford it.”
He revealed that in the last two years the organisation had supplied around 32,000 chocolate items, and they will soon begin to plan for Christmas as part of the work they do in support of Beckton Foodbank.
They recently won the Civic and Community Engagement Award at the 2022 Newham Business Awards.
Bonny Downs Community Association is a charity that has been serving Newham residents since 1998. They launched their food bank in 2013 in response to rising levels of food poverty.
Steve Bynon, the adult services lead at the charity told Rising East, ‘Newham is in a particularly difficult position. The average UK salary is around £29K while in Newham the average is around £19K.’
The organisation Food Cycle has a location in East Ham where they run community meals. ‘In the first week of January we served around 700 guests and demand has increased significantly. We have heard from guests that are worried about the cost-of-living crisis.’
According to Trust For London, 49% of children in Newham are living in poverty and need help from local food banks.
Irons Supporting Food Banks creator John Ratomski spoke highly of Newham locals, ‘Very soon you get to know the East End spirit. East-Enders look after their own.’
East London residents who are struggling to make ends meet are also those who were promised the hope of a better life during the construction of The Olympic Park in Stratford in 2012.
Ratomski said, ‘A lot of residents feel deceived. The Olympic Park is like a ghost town for some people. It’s not for them.’
West Ham United showed their support on the big screen ahead of a match. Image: Irons Supporting Foodbanks
While the regeneration of areas in East London is positive, there is a large contrast between these and other places that haven’t changed in years. Regenerated areas offer housing that Newham locals cannot afford and those now needing help from food banks do not feel the regeneration has benefited them.
According to a recent report, Trussel Trust which runs 60% of the food banks in the UK said that as early as February this year, demand for food parcels went up 22% in a month.
