DEMAND for foodbank services is expected to grow with people facing redundancies, evictions and other financial insecurities.

Salisbury Foodbank project manager Maria Stevenson says the organisation and its volunteers have had to adapt to meet the demands thrown at it by the Covid-19 pandemic - from social distancing at its Ashfield Road warehouse, to the way referrals are made, with more being done online.

She said: “It’s been an incredible journey. It was a bit like a rollercoaster. We had such a high peak of demand really early on in the pandemic and then everything tailed off.”

Furlough had an impact, as well as school holiday meals and sickness.

“We are tracking our demand and I would say it is increasing slightly,” added Maria.

She said some of the people who had been coming frequently were not anymore but the foodbank was starting to see “ a lot of new faces”. There are other food sharing operatives in the city, which had helped ease the pressure after the initial peak during the pandemic.

Maria believes the need for foodbanks will grow and said: “We were growing at quite an alarming rate last year. With redundancies looming and evictions and all the other financial insecurities that are heading our way of course people are going to reach out and reach out to us. How many people have been just getting by with their savings, if they had savings, up until this point? And Christmas is around the corner.”

The foodbank has been a “lifeline to many” during the pandemic. She added: “We are here to help if you should need us.”

From November 1, Salisbury’s Trussell Trust foodbank will become an independent, fully funded charitable organisation known as Salisbury Foodbank. The change is being made to bring it in line with the other Trussell Trust foodbanks, which function as individual charitable units, with their own trustees and supporters, but enjoy the support and expertise of the parent organisation.

Maria said: “Being defined as “Salisbury Foodbank” gives us our own identity apart from the Trussell Trust – people locally see us as being one and the same, but whereas the Trussell Trust is a national charity supporting food banks, we are local charity supporting local people. We use a network of local connections and support agencies to help people in their time of crisis. The road ahead for us is very exciting as an independent charity – I’m supported by a fantastic board of Trustees who hold Salisbury and surrounding areas in their heart. As we approach a time of economic crisis and unemployment, we are well prepared to be here for anyone who needs us.”

Chairman of the Salisbury Foodbank trustees John Pitt-Brooke said: “From the start the local food bank has been the leader in support provision, food management and care standards, and we intend to continue to maintain and improve what we have, and, if possible, make it even better.”

Chief executive of the Trussell Trust Emma Revie said: “Salisbury Foodbank is where the story of the Trussell Trust began and has grown immeasurably since those days. We know from our network of food banks that local communities understand the needs of their area best and so we know it is the right time to return Salisbury Foodbank to the hands of the local community. We are committed to standing with food banks and people in poverty. As a member of the Trussell Trust network, Salisbury Foodbank will continue to work closely with us to campaign for a more just future where everyone can afford their own food.”

Anyone interested in fundraising for Salisbury Foodbank or sponsoring the charity go to salisbury.foodbank.org.uk