During the August parliamentary recess, Charlotte rencently spent time volunteering at Warrington Foodbank.

The foodbank is supported by local churches and community groups and is part of the Trussell Trust national network of foodbanks. All of the food donated is non-perishable and is sorted and organised by the amazing volunteers.

Charlotte said:

“I wish it didn’t need to exist, but as long as the demand is there, I’m so grateful for the work the volunteers do in providing that safety net in our community for our most vulnerable. Speaking to the guests, many of their stories had similar themes and it’s clear how urgent the need for wholesale reform of Universal Credit is- one man told me that if it wasn’t for the Foodbank, he’d be dead.

“The most stark realisation I think for anyone who visits the Foodbank is that it really could be anyone- I spoke to people who had comfortable lives and well-paying jobs, and after an illness or injury just had their life thrown completely off course. There but for the grace of God go any of us. My driving purpose in Parliament is to see to it that the welfare system is changed to ensure that people who have fallen on hard times for whatever reason get the support that they need to see them through it, for as long as they need it, and that everyone in our town benefits from its success. We cannot keep leaving people behind.”

For more information about Warrington Foodbank and how you can donate, visit its website at https://warrington.foodbank.org.uk