FOODBANK use in Chepstow has lowered in the last year, but hunger in the town could still remain an issue.

Between April and September 2015, Chepstow food bank gave 493 three day emergency food supplies to people in crisis compared to 514 in the same period last year. Of this, 149 of the three day supplies went to children.

Despite this fall in foodbank usage, this does not necessarily show a reduction in need.

The latest figures published by the Trussell Trust show food banks provided over 14,000 more three day emergency food supplies to people in crisis between April and September 2015 than the previous year.

Trussell Trust UK food bank director Adrian Curtis said: “Latest food bank figures are still at worryingly high levels. We look forward to the day that we can announce a decrease in numbers needing food banks, and we welcome the fact that latest national figures show a less dramatic rise.

“Whilst we hope that this is a sign that economic recovery is giving more people access to secure work, several food banks are reporting that some agencies and charities who would normally refer people in crisis to food banks have been unable to do so because funding reductions have caused their services to be squeezed or closed.

“We?re seeing that hunger remains a major issue for low income families and individuals. When the proposed changes to tax credits are implemented, we are concerned that more working families will not be able to make ends meet, and that we could see a substantial rise in food bank use as a result. We need to learn more from the realities of life for people struggling on low incomes and make sure that no incomes are too low to live on.”

In the last six months local people in Chepstow donated over 4.5 tonnes of food to Chepstow food bank, and over 40 people volunteered.

Winter is likely to see a rise in numbers of people needing food banks, as people on low incomes face choices between eating and heating.

As well as providing emergency food, Chepstow food bank provides essentials like washing powder, nappies and hygiene products to families who are struggling, as well as signposting them to other services in the local area.

Chepstow food bank is currently asking in particular for donations of sugar, coffee, tinned meat and UHT fruit juice.