Our latest Scotland report http://bit.ly/3jU2ai4  Comparing July 2019 with July 2020 we saw a 108% increase in the number of 3-day emergency food parcels distributed. Comparing February 2019 with February 2020 that rise was 5% #cashfirst #ifancallforchange

70 independent food banks across 20 local authorities in Scotland distributed at least 182,863 emergency food parcels between February and July 2020.

As the furlough scheme is set to end, deep recession takes hold and local lockdowns begin to be implemented, @IFAN_UK is calling on the Scottish and UK Governments to do all they can to address the escalating poverty driving increased food bank use.

@IFAN_UK is calling on the UK Government to: make the £20 uplift to Universal Credit permanent and extend it to legacy benefits; remove the benefit cap; end the 5-week long wait for a first Universal Credit payment by removing the loan element of advance payments;

end the two-child limit; end the sanctions system; permanently suspend No Recourse to Public Funds status.
We are calling on the @scotgov to deliver on its commitments to a ‘cash first’ approach and: clearly promote the Scottish Welfare Fund throughout Scotland
to ensure

people on low incomes experiencing crisis can access cash to cover urgent living costs; & take immediate action to help families on low incomes by putting in place the equivalent financial support of the Scottish Child Payment due in Feb 2021.
#cashfirst #ifancallforchange