Jim Ferguson

First word …
Welcome to the February edition of my Brussels Briefing.This month, in addition to my involvement in the appointment process of the new European Commission, I have been keeping a close eye on the reform of the Common Fisheries Policy while striving to seek clarity on the issue of food labelling.

In these tough economic times local businesses and farmers need our support. Locally sourced produce is no longer a fashionable phrase, it now relates to the very survival of local shops and businesses.

In addition,  the people of Scotland recognise the quality of home-grown produce and want to buy food that is genuinely Scottish. For too long consumers have been duped by products that have been mislabelled or not labelled at all. It is about time that producers are given clear guidelines for labelling. I will continue to campaign to have existing legislation changed to reflect the choice and clarity that consumers expect.

Join up here to support my campaign and help protect Scotland’s local farmers and businesses.

Best wishes,

Struan Stevenson MEP

Tweet this!

I am proud to say that my local Conservative members have donated £250. I went into Tesco today and told them that If they were prepared to match or exceed the amount donated I would also donate £250 from my own company The Castle Group.

We will see if they are big hearted enough to assist us.

Meanwhile Danny Alexander MP for Inverness Nairn Badenoch and Strathspey of the Lib Dems was quoted as saying “It is my impression and evidence from my own constituency contacts that things have got worse for benefit claimants in the Highlands since the system was centralised to a call centre in Clydebank,” he maintained.

“I have no doubt that in some cases the food bank is a lifesaver.”
Wow…..inspiring stuff Danny. You have no doubt eh ! So what exactly have you been doing since you were elected in 2005 ?

What did you do that would have highlighted or solved this problem before it could have become so bad. ? …….  Not a lot.

Its time to put our money up front – despite all the talk of some politicians, actions speak louder than words. Lets see if our sitting MP Mr Alexander can match our initiative.

what about the S.N.P and Labour members ?

What will you do now that I have thrown this your way Mr Alexander ?
Donate some money to these poor and needy folk ? I won’t hold my breath.

Full article:

Stocks low at Highland food bank

By Val Sweeney – Inverness Courier

Published: 04 March, 2008

IN the space of an hour, six people call at the Highland Food Bank in Inverness to collect emergency supplies. They include a single mother-of-three accompanied by a teenage girl whose mother recently died.

“There was no one else to care for her — she is the daughter of my best friend,” she explained. “I felt so sad for her. So, I decided to take her in to help her out until we can get things sorted.”

But finance is tight and a social worker has referred them to the food bank which operates four days a week out of the Free North Church hall in Madras Street, Merkinch.

A few minutes later, the pair depart clutching a couple of carrier bags filled with an assortment of ingredients while they debate who will be cooking the evening meal.

Like many people, the mother was previously unaware of the centre’s presence. “I think it is a fantastic idea,” she said. “I am not too proud to take help when I need it.”

The steady trickle of callers also include an elderly man, who chats to a member of staff over a cup of tea and a biscuit before leaving with his groceries, and a middle-aged man who has to hurry away for a job interview. Two young Polish men who speak limited English are the next to arrive.

“We are looking for jobs,” one explained. “We have been in Inverness for one month and cannot find jobs. We have been looking every day.” The pair now appear to be homeless and down to their last £20. “It is a very difficult situation for us,” he reflected.

It is about two-and-a-half years since the food bank opened its doors to needy families and individuals. Operated by the Christian relief agency, Blythswood Care, it is the only one of its type in Scotland and demand is rising. Last year the food centre helped more than 1700 people in crisis, a 70 per cent rise from the previous year, while in the first two months of this year about 340 people have been given boxes of food.

Co-ordinator Lorna Dempster acknowledged it was “a huge rise” and speculated over the reasons. “Obviously, I think awareness has grown in that a lot more people are being referred to us,” she said. Mrs Dempster had mixed feelings about the increasing use of the service. “It is a concern there is such a great need in Inverness in 2008 but to be able to do something is good — it is good we are able to step in and meet that need,” she said.

The reasons why people are referred are varied. By far, the biggest group are those whose benefit payment has been delayed — 37 per cent so far this year compared with 36 per cent for all of last year. Other reasons include debt (13 per cent), homelessness (12 per cent), low income (11 per cent), refused crisis loan (8 per cent), benefit cuts (4 per cent), domestic violence (2 per cent) and unemployment (1 per cent). The remaining 9 per cent are down to “other reasons” which could include theft of someone’s money, Mrs Dempster explained.

“It could even be things like someone whose fridge has broken down so that the items in the fridge are damaged and not usable,” she said. “It could be a case of getting the fridge repaired, or buying food. They might be told to get the fridge repaired and we would provide the food for a few days.”

Mrs Dempster stressed clients were from a broad range of backgrounds. “Need is no respecter of persons,” she said. “It could happen to anyone. The first guy who came in today used to have a good job but because of circumstances and problems in his life, he found himself in a difficult situation.”

Clients using the food bank have to hand in vouchers distributed by such agencies as GPs, social workers, community nurses, housing associations and citizens’ advice bureaux. In return, they are given a three-day supply of non-perishable foodstuffs.

The arrangements mean assessments are carried out by another organisation other than Blythswood and also ensure clients do not become reliant on the food boxes.

“People can have three vouchers in a given period of time,” Mrs Dempster explained. “That can be extended, if the people distributing the voucher think another couple of vouchers would help the person get back on their feet again.”

The packs, which contain a menu guide on how the food can be used to provide three meals per day, include such items as cereal, pasta, rice, potatoes, fruit, soup, corned beef, ham, tea and coffee.

The food bank recognised, however, there could be difficulties for some clients depending on their domestic arrangements. “If people are in bed and breakfast accommodation they might have a microwave or kettle so we try to give items that they are able to use,” she said. “For cup-a-soups and things like that, people can usually get by with just a kettle.”

Highland Food Bank co-ordinator Lorna Dempster. Gary Anthony

A couple of tables with chairs are also set out so anyone calling in can also stop for a cup of tea or coffee and a chat with the volunteers.

But not everyone lives near enough to collect supplies from the Madras Street centre so boxes of food are available for delivery by care professionals to clients.

Food supplies are donated largely by the public. In 2007 three tonnes of food were donated through harvest thanksgiving services at churches in Inverness and Easter Ross.

The first food bank schools appeal in the spring of 2006 attracted responses from 17 schools in the Inverness area while last year pupils from 26 primary schools in Inverness and Easter Ross participated.

“We are planning an appeal through schools in May but we need donations from the general public.” Mrs Dempster said.

Certainly, awareness of the project is spreading. At Christmas time, for the last two years, the Richard Fraser Charitable Trust donated money to buy festive foods such as Christmas puddings or selection boxes for the food parcels. Supermarkets such as Tesco Metro store in Tomnahurich Street, Inverness, have organised collections for customers to donate.

One former client, grateful to the food bank, is James Boyd, now a volunteer. Mr Boyd (39) of Huntly Place, Inverness, was referred to the project by staff at Caley House in Millburn Road which helps people with alcohol and drug problems.

“Things were not going too well and they gave me a voucher,” he said. “I went along to the food bank and they sat me down with a coffee. They were very nice people. It came along just at the right time.”

Subsequently, Mr Boyd turned his life around and as well as helping to distribute food parcels, he also puts together packs of toiletries with items donated by the Destiny Church which meets at the Columba Hotel in Inverness on Sunday mornings and of which he is a member.

Mr Boyd, a volunteer at the food bank for about nine months, said it was a way of saying “thank you”. “I know what it feels like when you have nothing,” he said.

Danny Alexander, MP for Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey, praised the work of the food bank but was also concerned about the proportion of clients being referred due to delays in benefit claims. “It is my impression and evidence from my own constituency contacts that things have got worse for benefit claimants in the Highlands since the system was centralised to a call centre in Clydebank,” he maintained.

“I have no doubt that in some cases the food bank is a lifesaver.”

Tinned meat, tinned potatoes, UHT whole milk, dried fruit and packets of rice are the top five items required most urgently by the food bank.

Other items on the list include breakfast cereal, dried pasta, oatcakes and crackers, tinned vegetables, tinned tomatoes, tinned fruit, tinned fish, tinned soup and Cup-a-soup, tinned custard and rice pudding, tea bags, coffee and sugar. Donations can be left at any Blythswood shop, or collection can be arranged by phoning 0845 456 9460.

v.sweeney@inverness-courier.co.uk

As discussed earlier, I along with our Conservative Party members with the Help of Tescos raised between us £837 worth of food. I can confirm that the food has all now been delivered to the Food bank at Blythswood.

If you remember, I had laid down a challenge to the other political parties to get involved and ask their respective members to donate seeing as this was a crisis and local people who had not received their benefits were in desperate need.

I have to say I was very disappointed that not one of the other parties were prepared to help. They made some lame comments about already donating to local charities etc etc but the worst of all was Liberal Democrat MP Danny Alexander for Inverness Nairn Badenoch and Strathspey who despite claiming some of the largest expenses couldn’t be bothered to give anything at all. Instead he said politicians should be doing something so that the situation should not have arisen in the first place.

I’m sure that really made these local hungry people feel much better!

Tweet this!