THE number of people needing emergency food supplies has increased by 12 per cent in 12 months.

A total of 946 people, including 366 children, received three-day emergency food supplies from The Whitehawk Foodbank in Brighton last year

The food bank in Whitehawk Way, operated by national charity the Trussell Trust, said changes and delays in benefits was the top reason for desperate families being referred.

Low income and debt were also key factors.

Families receive emergency food and essentials such as washing powder, nappies and sanitary products.

One mother, who fled domestic violence with her four children and young baby, said the food bank was a lifeline when she found herself in emergency accommodation with a four-week wait for any cash from benefits.

Wanting to remain anonymous, she said: “One day I had it all and the next day we had nothing. For our own safety we had to leave everything. While I was waiting for benefits to be sorted out I was in turmoil myself trying to be strong for the children but also thinking how are we going to eat.

“That weight was lifted off our shoulders because the foodbank was there to help me and take that one burden off.”

Since her plight four years ago she has since returned to Whitehawk Foodbank as a volunteer to help process and distribute the tonnes of food donated each year by churches, businesses and the public in supermarkets and banks.

Doug Curties, manager of the Whitehawk Foodbank, said: “Anybody could find themselves in need of the food bank. Every week people are referred to us after being hit by something unavoidable such as illness, delay in benefit payment or an unexpected bill, meaning food is simply unaffordable.

“It really is only with the community’s support that we’re able to provide vital emergency help and we hope that one day there will be no need for us in Whitehawk.

“But until that day comes we will continue to offer the best service to help local people facing a crisis.”

It comes as the Trussell Trust, the UK’s largest food bank network, said it handed out 1,182,954 three-day food parcels – a record.

The trust said the six-week-plus waiting time for a first benefit payment faced by new universal credit claimants was behind the rise in demand for charity food and called for an immediate reduction.