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Kayleigh-Garthwaite-main_article_image.jpg
Policy Press
UK News

Church foodbank academic warns services are becoming normal

Dr Kayleigh Garthwaite, who considers herself non-religious, has written about her experiences helping with food collections and washing-up at Hebron Church in Stockton-on-Tees for a new book she plans to pass on to the Government.

Foodbank - copyright Jeff Blackler/REX

The research associate at Durham University is also calling for a dispelling of the myth that only people who have made bad life choices rely on foodbanks.

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Dr Garthwaite told Premier she intends to give a copy of her book "Hunger Pains: Life inside foodbank Britain" to the Work and Pensions Secretary Stephen Crabb, who is a Christian.

When asked why, she said it was to help change attitudes to foodbanks, adding: "Everytime you go to a supermarket, there is a food collection point; they are asking people to pick an extra tin of something in the shop.

"Whilst that is obviously helping people who are using the foodbank, I just worry that the more and more foodbanks become normalised, the harder it will be to actually get rid of them."

Dr Garthwaite went on to say: "I don't actually consider myself to have a religion.

"It was interesting when I first started at the foodbank because I think I was the only volunteer who didn't come from a religious background but it was never a problem at all. They always made me feel welcome."

You can listen to Dr Garthwaite speaking with Premier's Alex Williams by clicking here.

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