28 August 2014 Ian Morris - Foodbanks

It was a full house at last week's meeting. In addition to our welcome speaker, Ian Morris from Crisis Food Bank based in Stirling, we had three visitors from Queen Victoria School - Gail Edwards; Interact Club President, Hannah Sloan and Vice President, Lucy McNair.

It was also a great pleasure to welcome Dr. Nicola Ring who is Course Director at the University of Stirling for the Masters in Health Research course, which our Global Grant Scholar, Christine Mbiza will be starting in mid-September.

Our speaker, Ian Morris, was introduced by President Peter Farr who said that Ian had recently started as a  Crisis Food Bank worker for 'Start-Up Stirling' following a long career as a Police Officer with Central Scotland Police then latterly with Police Service of Scotland.

Ian has primary responsibility for overseeing the administration and delivery of 2 of the Stirling food banks which run on a Monday and Wednesday.
He gave a very moving account of this very topical subject, which is receiving a lot of media attention currently, and is arguably one of the worst examples of the inequalities in modern society and a stain on our national conscience. A recent report indicated that around 71,500 people, including 22,500 children received support between April 2013 and March 2014 a 400% increase on the previous year. Locally, the Crisis Food Bank in Stirling had 364 referrals in its first full year of operation and in the six months to April 2014 had already exceeded that figure by a significant amount.
Ian told us there are three food banks in Stirling with a fourth under development to meet the growing need. They had 86 referrals in one week and the problems are increasing. Ian dispelled a few of the common myths about how they operate and who is helped by the charity. More information is on their website: www.startupstirling.org.uk
Lawrie Orr thanked Ian for a very well delivered and thought provoking talk.