FOOD banks are continuing to open across south Essex despite the claimed upturn in the economy.

Only last week, the Trussell Trust opened a food bank at Great Wakering Methodist Church, in the High Street. At the beginning of September, it opened one at West Leigh Baptist Church, in London Road, Leigh.

Churches in Westcliff are also also hoping to work with the trust to open a food bank there by January.

Andy Goodliff, who founded the Belle Vue Food Bank in Southchurch a year ago, says the reason is simple.

The apparent upturn in the economy and falling unemployment does not necessarily mean people – especially those at the bottom of the pile – are any better off.

He explained: “Even as people are getting jobs, many of those jobs are part-time, on zero-hour contracts, or are low-paid.

“People may still find themselves in a situation where they cannot buy basic food for their families.

“It’s difficult to tell whether demand at our food bank is actually increasing – some weeks, the numbers are a little bit less, and in others they go up.

“What I would say is, with more food banks across the area, people can now get help more easily.

“We want to make sure anyone who finds themselves in an emergency or crisis can come to us for help, wherever they are.”

Figures released by the Campaign to End Child Poverty suggest wide variations in the level of child poverty in the areas served by the new food banks.

In Southend’s Milton and Shoebury wards, 38.5 per cent and 32.5 per cent of children respectively are said to be in poverty.

Chalkwell and West Leigh wards have much lower rates – 20.2 per cent and 15.5 per cent, respectively.

However, Mr Goodliff said many of the wards in the borough which might be regarded as better- off also have “hidden deprivation”

– even among those who appear to be doing well.

He explained: “Quite a lot of people coming to our food banks who we are helping are what some people call the ‘hidden poor’ “From an outside point of view, they won’t look like they are in need, but for whatever reason, they find themselves in an emergency or a crisis situation.

“You have to consider that the first Trussell Trust food bank started in Salisbury, in Wiltshire – a place generally considered a very prosperous, upper middle-class town in the south of England."