Sun, 28 Sep 2025

Sun, 28 Sep 2025 Dad-of-three turns to food bank after job loss

Luke Harborne says his current situation is "really tough" and the food bank says he is not alone.
Single father-of-three Luke Harborne, 30, was forced to move back in with his parents and rely on a food bank after losing his job as a roofer in December. He had been struggling financially even while employed, living on the streets for a period of time before being taken in by his parents. Harborne praised the Worcester Foodbank team, saying they were "absolutely brilliant" and that he didn't know what would happen to him if he didn't have access to their services. The manager of Worcester Foodbank, Grahame Lucas, said the charity has seen a significant increase in demand since 2014, with numbers rising from 3,000 people per year to over 18,000. They provide around 250,000 meals annually at a cost of £500,000. Lucas expressed sympathy for the government and acknowledged that changing the system would be a long-term project, likening it to an "oil tanker moment". Deputy warehouse manager Susan Campbell said she has seen more families coming in and that the stories from clients are often heartbreaking. A spokesperson from the Department of Work and Pensions stated their intention to tackle food bank dependence by publishing a child poverty taskforce strategy later this year. Foodbank usage is on the rise across other banks, with members of Boston Food Bank issuing an appeal for non-perishable items to help those in need.
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