High poverty and a growing number of food banks in some parts of South Cumbria have prompted two of the area’s biggest hitters to ask for a Poverty Emergency to be declared.

Cllr Giles Archibald, leader of South Lakeland District Council, and Cllr Suzie Pye, cabinet member for wellbeing and financial resilience, both think that a poverty emergency should be declared now to help those in need.

Cllr Archibald said: “We already have a high level of poverty in some of our wards, and we think this will rise in the coming months.”

Food banks in South Lakeland recorded rising levels of demand during the lockdown. The food bank in Ulverston saw a 38 per cent rise from April to July, and Kendal’s reported an 18 per cent growth.

Cllr Pye added: “I agree with Giles, additionally I’m alarmed that our existing food banks have been busier during recent months, but we have also seen a lot of new food banks and fare shares opening. This is very worrying as it indicates a growing need. The crisis demonstrates how communities have responded to the situation positively and practically.

"Community response is vital as we move forward, but it is, unfortunately,  seen as a stigma and this can be a major block in people accessing help. Declaring a poverty emergency now would hopefully go some way to removing this stigma.”