In response to the continued effects of welfare reform on some of Scotland’s poorest and most vulnerable people, the Scottish Federation of Housing Associations (SFHA) launched an appeal at the beginning of December to encourage its member housing associations and co-operatives to give to their local food banks, which are seeing soaring levels of referrals.

Sally Thomas, SFHA chief executive, said: “Across Scotland, the continued roll-out of Universal Credit is having serious consequences. The six-week wait for payment is leading some people to struggle to pay their housing costs or to feed themselves, and food bank referrals are set to soar over the Christmas period.

“The Chancellor announced new measures in November’s Budget that are aimed at addressing Universal Credit’s issues, including scrapping the seven-day wait period for payments in February 2018. While the SFHA welcomes the changes, they will have no effect on people who are currently receiving Universal Credit or those who will move on to it before the new measures are implemented.”

In the run up to Christmas, the SFHA encouraged its members to take part in its Food Bank Advent Appeal and has welcomed their response, with housing associations across the country donating to their local food banks.

The SFHA also took part in the appeal and collected items for its local food bank, the Trussell Trust’s Glasgow City Centre Foodbank.

Sally Thomas added: “Our members provide homes for some of the country’s poorest and most vulnerable people who bear the brunt of welfare reform policies. We launched our Food Bank Advent Appeal to highlight the continued effects of policies, such as Universal Credit, and their link to soaring food bank use, which was demonstrated by the Trussell Trust earlier this year.

“We have been delighted by how our members and SFHA staff responded to the appeal and hope the donations help to ease some of the burden on food banks and the people who access their services this Christmas.”

John Ratcliffe, manger at Trussell Trust’s Glasgow City Centre Foodbank, said: “We’ve seen a big increase in the use of our food bank in the last few months of 2017. There are a lot of desperate people, unable to put food on the table, and we are only able to meet the need through donations such as these.”

As part of the appeal, Manor Estates Housing Association has been collecting items for a local food bank run by the Salvation Army.

The collection also included Christmas items, such as Christmas puddings, toys and selection boxes, which might help to brighten up an otherwise bleak Christmas.

Graeme Russell, chief executive, Manor Estates Housing Association, said: “Welfare reforms, such as Universal Credit, are punishing already vulnerable people and causing crisis situations where they need emergency food supplies.

“With food bank use set to soar this Christmas, and food banks struggling to cope with demand, we decided to collect for the local Salvation Army Food Bank. Although new measures have been announced, they will not helped people who are already receiving Universal Credit or moving on to the policy before the changes are implemented.”

The handover of items to the food bank took place on December 15 at the Gorgie Road, Salvation Army Centre.

To find out how you can give to the Glasgow City Centre Foodbank, please visit www.glasgowcitycentre.foodbank.org.uk/give-help.