Welfare state no longer acting as basic ‘safety net’ – Church of England report
Britain’s welfare system is increasingly failing to fulfil its basic founding objective of acting as a “safety net” for people in the most extreme need, a new report published by the Church of England warns – and lets not forget rural places have their own fare share of those afflicted by poverty!
The study, which examines users of food banks run by churches and charities, singles out avoidable problems in the benefits system, including administrative mix-ups and delays in processing payments as one of the main causes for people requiring emergency aid.
The research, called ‘emergency use only’, was jointly conducted by Oxfam, Child Poverty Action Group (CPAG) , the Church of England and the Trussell Trust, also examines how food bank use fits in with wider coping strategies and what might be done to reduce the need that leads to food bank use.
Bishop Christopher, who chaired the report launch in the House of Commons, described the recommendations in the study as “sensible and practical”.”Food banks are a remarkable testament to the response to a very real need by voluntary endeavour, particularly from networks of local churches and effective organisation, not least the Trussell Trust, as well as many independent food banks,” he said.”But we are compelled to look at why there is a need for them in an affluent nation such as the United Kingdom and to look at sensible practical ways of reducing the need for access to them through strengthening resolve for action and partnerships.”