Hot Topics: Two Bishops give their views on the role of foodbanks

ARE FOODBANKS AN ACCEPTABLE SOLUTION TO THE PROBLEMS OF POVERTY IN THE UK?

We hear from two bishops who are involved at the heart of efforts to help those most in need

Bishop of Colchester, Roger Morris

‘I long for the day when foodbanks have ceased to exist. That is not to take anything away from the staff and volunteers; they do a superb job. However, they are not a long-term solution. They identify the gaps in safety nets in our community life. It points the finger of judgement at the rest of us – it should not happen in a country like ours, that those who are destitute or in poverty should have to rely on hand outs.

‘When I was appointed Bishop of Colchester, I also become a patron of the town’s foodbank. It is a useful barometer which helps me to understand what is going on for people. Increasing numbers of children and families are being forced into poverty.

Taking action

‘2020 was the year that child poverty was supposed to be ended in the UK. Some of the measures identified at the time of Every Child Matters in 2003 point the way to action we could be taking now. Now there are rising numbers of people using foodbanks.

‘There are things we can do immediately. For example, locking in the £20 addition to Universal Credit* to give people that guaranteed income. We could get rid of the two child benefit limit. For example, in Essex, the biggest recent rise in unemployment is in Great Dunmow, triggered by job losses at Stansted Airport. Should those people really have thought, two or three years ago, that they shouldn’t have had another child in case they became unemployed? It is utterly wrong to penalise people in that way.

‘Similarly we could raise the Child Benefit element of Universal Credit to better support families and children. All primary school children whose parents are on any kind of benefit should have free school meals. Hats off to Marcus Rashford, he has done an amazing job.

‘We have an education system which perpetuates inequality; it needs root and branch reform. More affluent and articulate parents either fund education for their children privately or pay for tutoring so their children can pass exams and entrance tests – they are better placed to win appeals, or can travel further to schools with better outcomes. Children from poorer homes start out behind in the race and they never make up that distance.

‘This is where the Church can get involved: we have a massive stake in the education system.

‘We could learn from the Oasis Trust, which has set up and run academies in the toughest and most deprived areas of the UK. We should be having high-level meetings with them.’

The Right Reverend Roger Morris studied Theology at Trinity College Cambridge. He has been in ordained ministry since 1993 and has been Suffragan Bishop of Colchester in the Diocese of Chelmsford since 2014.

Bishop of Newcastle, Christine Hardman

‘I do not think that foodbanks are an acceptable solution to poverty, but it is very important that they are in existence.

‘To eradicate poverty is one of the most significant challenges that we face. Here in the north east, over 30 per cent of children live in relative poverty. Newcastle was a pilot area for Universal Credit. The delay in people being eligible to receive payments, and the relatively low level, is contributing to perpetuating poverty and debt.

‘I think we need to look hard at what’s the right level of benefit people should be receiving. Universal Credit is aimed at those on low incomes as well as the unemployed. Ending the delay in payment would be helpful, as many families do not have savings, so get into debt. I would also support continuing the £20 increase in Universal Credit beyond April.*

‘I chair the Inclusive Economy Board of the North of Tyne Combined Authority. Its members include businesses, trade unions, industry, universities and civil society, and we use the expertise of organisations like the Joseph Rowntree Foundation. Our aim is to bring together people from different sectors to create good jobs with a living wage, and include people who are usually excluded from the benefits of economic growth. The rise in youth unemployment is one of the tragedies of the current situation, and the decimation of the hospitality sector. The Government has provided support, including the furlough scheme and the Kickstart scheme for young people, but I am hoping they will call upon regional expertise to get things right at a local level as we recover.

“Food banks are not a longterm solution. The rise in youth unemployment is one of the tragedies of the current situation [made worse by the pandemic]

The Church on the ground

‘The Church is absolutely not called to be party political, but it is called to give voice to the voiceless, the poor and vulnerable. This is happening at all levels in society, from the Bishops in the House of Lords who can wield some influence, to churches making a difference through the inspiration of faith and the everyday discipleship of ordinary Christians.

‘The Diocese of Newcastle has one of the largest foodbanks in the country, the West End Foodbank, run by the Trussell Trust and based at the Church of the Venerable Bede in Benwell. Not all the volunteers are Christians, but a lot of church members are involved. There are many foodbanks throughout the area, and I am proud of the commitment of local churches in supporting them. In the north east there traditionally has been a lot of hardship, but people have big hearts and there is also a lot of generosity.’

*At the time of interviewing this was still being debated.

The Right Reverend Christine Hardman was installed as Diocesan Bishop of Newcastle in 2015. She trained for ordination at St Albans Ministerial Training scheme and has a Masters in Applied Theology from Westminster College Oxford.

FINDING HELP – NOW HELPING OTHERS pads, or baby grows, or any equipment you need for a newborn baby. ‘We collected baby grows Emily Brailsford explains she was and sanitary pads for the first drawn to MU for its support, but new mothers, and I really enjoyed being part of that. is now an active leader and can see It was simple to do, and as I how her life has been transformed work, this was a way to make a difference that I could take

It was the supportive and close to them all.’ Always a part in relatively easily.’ caring aspect of Mothers’ committed churchgoer, Emily Mothers’ Union’s support Union that drew Emily has enjoyed that aspect of and lobbying for the first Bill Brailsford, 39, when she membership. Godly Play for free school meals in 2015 joined ten years ago, but she sessions, which involve really made an impression stayed for the activism and talking to children about on her too: ‘My two youngest affirmation of faith that she the Bible and helping them children were at infant school also found. Emily, who is now learn more about it, have then and it really brought a branch vice president in the helped her grow in faith. home to me the impact that it Diocese of Derby and a lay would have on families.’ reader, was going through a Getting stuck in Passionate About Parenting tough time after the birth of The projects Mothers’ Union courses have also had a major her daughter Eva, and with gets involved with and runs, influence on her son’s diagnosis of autism which Emily feels need to be Emily. She and ADHD. shared more widely, have is now

‘Mothers’ Union also motivated her to extend trained members were so caring what she does and join in to deliver the and supportive, they really with campaigning on a courses and feels welcomed me and were national level. they play an important just wonderful. I felt as if I ‘In 2018, our diocese got role in helping families to had gained a community of involved with the Moses cope, especially in stressful supportive women friends, Basket Project. We discovered times. ‘I took part in the like an extended family,’ that women in the refugee programme in 2012 and it has Emily explains. “I do not camp at Calais were giving taught me a lot. Parenting know what I would have done birth on the bare earth, and courses are really important, without them. I feel very they had nothing – no sanitary especially at the moment

with lockdown – there will be a lot of families in difficult situations, and children and parents who need support.’

Working on behalf of domestic abuse victims

In her job, Emily is part of the Willow Project, which raises awareness of domestic abuse in rural areas. ‘There is a perception that domestic abuse only happens in inner city flats, perpetrated by people on low incomes. People see these idyllic little villages and think nothing like domestic abuse could possibly be happening there. People are also geographically isolated in rural areas. The truth is that domestic abuse can happen anywhere and affect anyone.’

Emily is part of the Mothers’ Union steering group lobbying about the Domestic Abuse Bill, currently going through parliamentary process on its way to become law. By the time this article appears, the steering group will have lobbied the Lords Spiritual about aspects of the Bill they are hoping to have strengthened. This includes the regulations that exclude women who are asylum seekers from support from public funds in the UK: “They are here escaping from abuse, and if they are not eligible for any support, which makes it incredibly difficult for them.’

The Mothers’ Union group will also be lobbying to create a new offence to deal with non-fatal strangulation, which in the past has been used by abusers as a defence, by claiming it was part of a consenting sexual act gone wrong.

“Mothers’ Union has definitely changed me

My involvement has changed me

With all the obvious negative effects of the pandemic, there has also been some opportunities to bring people together. Midday prayers conducted on Zoom have attracted growing numbers of members and some people have gone online for the first time. ‘Our branch has gained more members over lockdown,’Emily says.

‘Mothers’ Union has definitely changed me,’ reflects Emily. Whether it is motivating people as diocesan vice president or campaigning to change the law, she is passionate about her involvement and feels the breadth of the charity’s contribution is often overlooked. ‘I feel it is time that we all played our part in sharing the amazing work that Mothers’ Union does with as many people as we can.’