THE demand for foodbanks in Cheshire continues to see a rise, with one volunteer suggesting things are likely to get worse before they get better as we head into the new year.

Nathan Pardoe, a Winsford Town Councillor and volunteer at Mid Cheshire Foodbank, was speaking to The Guardian about how the Covid-19 pandemic has resulted in more people needing help than ever before, with further uncertainty likely in the months that lie ahead.

However, Cllr Pardoe also said one thing that has really shone through in 2020 was a great sense of community spirit and support, which is essential for its future.

He said: "Community support has always been great at the foodbank, but this year has been exceptional.

"We've had such great donations from both organisations and individuals.

"There's one person who has been donating to us for a while and they won £100 or so on the Lottery and spent it all on foodbank donations.

"We've had so much support like that and it's essential really.

"The foodbank can buy what it needs at times but if it had to buy everything, it just wouldn't be sustainable."

With the furlough scheme recently extended, Christmas get-togethers reduced to just one day and the prospect of even tighter restrictions with the rise in case numbers, all the signs are pointing towards next year being even busier.

Cllr Pardoe said: "There is just so much uncertainty around at the moment.

"The government is still there providing support for people, which is good.

"But the issue will come when that support ends."

Despite an increase in demand, the Covid-19 pandemic has actually resulted in some positive changes in how the foodbank operates, with it now even easier to get the desired help when you need it.

Northwich Guardian: Donations from donation from Saint Flooring, UK Container Maintenance, B2 Business Systems, Cleaning Supplies 2U and other Winsford Industrial Estate businesses.

"Some people say that foodbanks don't help everyone, because it's a voucher," he said.

"But the bar to get the voucher is not that high and the reason it's there is for when you go to a foodbank, there's questions being asked as to why you need the food.

"The appointment system we use now makes it so much easier and it is very similar to a supermarket click and collect type arrangement.

"A big part of the foodbanks is to make the experience as normal as possible.

"We've partnered with other groups who do meals that need re-heating, like pub food, and we've offered them to people, so it kind of becomes like a take away night, which again, helps normalise things.

"We offer a lot more than we used to, ironically because of Covid, and the fact we introduced the booking system, we know how many people are coming which means we know how much food we need.

"There's actually been many positive changes that have come about because of it."

The foodbank has done many new things this year, one of them being Christmas bags, which contain all the things you'd expect, such as treats, but also vouchers for a local butcher's, which again, is all part of trying to normalise help.

"For next year, what we need is the continued community support and the recognition that things will probably get worse before they get better," Cllr Pardoe explained.

"Furlough obviously only works for as long as a company keeps you on the payroll.

"If a company folds and you end up on Universal Credit, the uplift's been taken away and you have the arbitrary benefit cap as well.

"So I think demand will only grow, but it's also important to emphasise, there is enough food for everyone.

"Everyone involved with the foodbank has a story about someone who won't come back because they don't want to take from anyone else.

"It's admirable that people do it but you really don't have to wait until you haven't eaten in days to get help.

"Generally, you often see that the people who need the help the most are the ones that don't want to take from somebody else."

Cllr Pardoe went on to say the community spirit had been especially noticeable during the October half-term, when people and businesses made sure children in the region didn't go hungry.

He said: "It shows that even in difficult times, people want to help.

"If we all did a little bit then a lot of problems could be solved."

The Mid Cheshire Foodbank will remain open during the Christmas and New Year period and if anyone requires any help, all calls will be answered.