MORE and more people “can’t make ends meet” in Renfrewshire as new figures expose the harsh impact of the cost-of-living crisis.

The number of residents turning to Renfrewshire Foodbank for supplies has risen in the last year, it has been revealed in a report to a council task force.

A total of 1,295 foodbank vouchers were issued in the quarter to September 30, compared against 1,009 in 2022 – a 28 per cent increase.

That’s according to a document discussed at the Fairer Renfrewshire sub-committee last Wednesday.

The report also disclosed Houston, Crosslee and Linwood saw a 148 per cent surge in vouchers since the same quarter last year, while a jump of almost 70 per cent was recorded in Paisley Southwest.

Crystal Clayton, senior manager at Renfrewshire Foodbank, said the cost-of-living crisis has pulled more people into poverty.

“The cost of things are going up,” she said. “The wages aren’t matching that.

“The working population are coming to the foodbank more and more. They just can’t make ends meet at all.

“In relation to people on benefits, the movement from the legacy benefits to Universal Credit, there’s a two-week waiting gap in between that.

“You can only imagine when that hits that our numbers are going to sky-rocket.

“The cost-of-living crisis is pulling more people into poverty.”

According to the foodbank, 9,875 parcels were distributed during 2022/23 – a number which is expected to soar to more than 10,000 in 2023/24.

Councillor Graeme Clark, vice chair of the Fairer Renfrewshire sub-committee and Labour representative for Paisley Northeast and Ralston, described the situation as “concerning” on Wednesday.

He said: “The cost-of-living crisis report sadly observes that there’s a whole group of new people falling into deeper debt and that there has been a 28 per cent rise in those being referred to Renfrewshire Foodbank, compared to the same time last year.

“With greater numbers from Houston, Crosslee and Linwood and Paisley Southwest, the fact is it’s a whole group of new people who are falling into debt. That’s very concerning.

“I think everybody’s feeling it … Although times are tough for many, hopefully as we come towards Christmas Renfrewshire people will continue to be generous to the foodbank because the demands on the foodbank are large.

“If you can support the foodbank, I would encourage people to do so, so that people don’t go hungry this Christmas and that the foodbank is able to do what it does so well.”