![\"Sir](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/0_Screenshot-2025-05-10-at-23107-PM.png\")
Sir Keir Starmer.(Image: PA.)<\/p>\nThe foodbank in Glasgow fears closure as more people struggle with the rising cost of living.Sir Keir Starmer.(Image: PA.)<\/p>\n
A foodbank chief who fears running out of funding believes the current Labour government is doing nothing to help people out of poverty.<\/a><\/p>\n Nick Hopkins, chairman at Glasgow South West Foodbank, said the cost of living crisis<\/a> is forcing more people to use his service yet donations are running out.<\/p>\n The former Labour member said he doesn\u2019t believe Keir Starmer\u2019s government will be able to turn the tide on poverty.<\/a><\/p>\n Hopkins said: \u201cMy honest view is that it will be the next Labour government after this one that makes a full frontal assault on poverty<\/a> because I\u2019m not sure it\u2019s happening from this government at all.\u201d<\/p>\n His comments come after Labour <\/a>suffered a gruelling result in the recent local elections in England, losing out in most cases to Nigel Farage\u2019s Reform party with an overall loss of 188 seats.<\/p>\n Hopkins said organisations like his are struggling in the current climate as more people turn to them<\/a> for help.<\/p>\n He said: \u201cPeople are really already stretched and then something will happen in just one month – they\u2019ll get a bill that\u2019s that bit bigger or benefits will stop or be reduced.<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s all it takes to push people into needing us<\/a>. Budgets are being stretched tight and then suddenly snap.<\/p>\n \u201cThis financial year we\u2019re expecting it to be busier than last, there is no doubt about that. There\u2019s been a slow and steady increase since the pandemic.\u201d<\/p>\n The Glasgow South West foodbank <\/a>provides almost 6,000 meals a month to local residents with the equivalent of just 2.2 full time employees.<\/p>\n While the number of visitors are rising, donations are falling.<\/p>\n Nick said there was a real chance the foodbank <\/a>could have to close due to a lack of funding and donations and is now appealing for help.<\/p>\n He said: \u201cWe have funding proposals submitted but there is no guarantee they\u2019ll be accepted. If they don\u2019t come through, all options will be on the table and difficult decisions will have to be made.<\/p>\n \u201cWe will always take donations of food<\/a>, but it would be fantastic to get donations of cash.<\/p>\n \u201cIf we could bring in even \u00a310,000 to \u00a315,000 that would be a massive help and it would get us to the point we had hoped to be at the end of the last financial year.<\/p>\n \u201cAround 70 per cent of what we hand out comes in as direct donation of food.<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cThe remainder we buy, and having the money to buy is really important because we can fill in the gaps.<\/p>\n \u201cWe buy items like milk, fresh bread, eggs and cheese as those have to be kept fresh and refrigerated so we can\u2019t really take donations<\/a> of them but they\u2019re a really important part of the diet.\u201d<\/p>\n Hopkins said that while both the Scottish <\/a>and Westminster governments have implemented policies in an effort to improve poverty levels, an estimated \u00a321 billion would be needed to really turn the tide.<\/p>\n He said: \u201cMy sense is that no one is finding \u00a321 billion.<\/p>\n \u201cEven if we have wonderful economic growth, I don\u2019t see any government finding that sort of money.<\/p>\n \u201cIt is a failure that we\u2019re here, that foodbanks are needed. But I\u2019m 52 now, and I fully expect when I\u2019m 65 or 70 for the organisation that I helped to set up still to be here.\u201d<\/p>\n For information on how to donate to the Glasgow South West foodbank visit www.glasgowsw.foodbank.org.uk<\/a><\/p>\n Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today.<\/p>\n You’ll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland.<\/p>\n No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team.<\/p>\n![\"Foodbank](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/0_NICK.jpg\")
Foodbank Chairman Nick Hopkins<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/0_WACOMMUNITYQR2.png\")
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