MORE than 800 people have been helped by a North Yorkshire foodbank during the last year – a rise of more than 60 per cent over the previous 12 months.

The top three reasons for referral to the Ryedale foodbank were benefit delay, low income and benefit change– the same primary causes for people seeking help across the country.

Of the 831 people given three day’s emergency food, 290 were children.

Co-ordinator Lesley Hurley said last year people donated 9,947 tonnes of food to Ryedale foodbank, and more than 50 people volunteered two or more hours per week.

“We are pretty much on trend with the national figures so we can’t pretend we live in a bubble,” she said.

“Schools, businesses and faith groups have provided vital support to the foodbank, enabling us to give three days’ nutritionally-balanced food and support to people in crisis.”

She said they were also looking for volunteers in the Pickering area.

“Many people in the area don’t realise there is a foodbank at Potter Hill Methodist Church on Thursdays, from 4pm to 6pm,” she said.

Nationally, in the last year, total numbers of foodbanks launched rose by five per cent, while numbers of people helped by foodbanks rose by 19 per cent.