The man who set up Dundee’s first foodbank when he was 19 said he is worried the coronavirus pandemic could push many more families into poverty and foodbank dependency through job losses and potential longer term austerity.
Concerns have been raised by former Dundee-based charity boss Ewan Gurr, who spent 14 years helping to set up and run foodbanks across Scotland – including seven years as Scottish manager of the Trussell Trust.
“There is a risk that people buying or overbuying food raises the likelihood of other people being pushed into food poverty,” Ewan told The Courier.
“But if people don’t have money in their pocket, it doesn’t matter if the food supply is there – they just can’t fill their cupboards.
“My major concern is not so much the food supply issue – it’s the economic issue. There’s a lot of businesses and organisations on a slender profit margin.
“A lot of people are being made redundant or have had their lower restrictive income totally eliminated on the basis they have been paid off or are in limbo because of self-isolation.
“I think we’re going to see a massive increase in unemployment as a result of this. I think we’re going to see a massive increase in the number of people applying for Universal Credit – throwing themselves on the mercy of the state.
“Even further down the line than that, I think the likelihood of a global recession is significantly likely. Everything seems to point to that.
“I think if we fall into another global recession, the big question is do we have another decade’s worth of austerity ahead of that? That’s a huge concern!”
Ewan said that in recent years, the level of public donations to foodbanks had generally increased.
What had struck him in the past six months, however, was some regular contributors saying they could no longer do so because they were “stockpiling for Brexit”.
He expected a similar hit on donations if people were “stockpiling” due to coronavirus.
But while he said the current situation had seen some of the worst aspects of humanity through stockpiling and abuse of supermarket staff by some customers, he was also encouraged that the best of humanity had been shown whether that be community volunteers watching out for neighbours or the private sector stepping up to the plate with donations.
He also praised the Westminster government for agreeing to pay 80% of salary for staff who are kept on by their employer.
“I’ve never voted Conservative in my life, but from a totally apolitical perspective I think the government has got this absolutely right – I think their intervention has been bang on the money,” he added.
The Courier told how the impact of fewer volunteers, increased demand and fluctuating stocks is testing the resolve of Courier Country foodbanks at a time when their need is more important than ever.
It comes as the founder of a Dundee charity set up to help feed hungry children in deprived parts of the city during the school holidays is working to extend the programme now that schools have closed as a result of the coronavirus outbreak.
Former Dundee City Council chief executive David Dorward told The Courier Dundee Bairns had already been scheduled to provide up to 8000 meals through community projects when Dundee’s Easter holidays start on March 30.
