THE two week school holidays has seen a 20 per cent increase in the number of children being supported by Worcester Foodbank.

Parents whose children would usually have free school meals have had to turn to the service as they struggled to fund the extra meals.

Grahame Lucas, Worcester foodbank manager, said the numbers of children given food had spiked by 20 per cent during the Easter break.

"We have definitely seen an increase in the proportion of children we have helped over the Easter period.

"It does seem that families are suffering because of the school holiday period and it is always difficult to make a judgement because we were closed on Good Friday and Bank Holiday Monday.

"Even taking that into account there was a significant increase in the number of families coming through."

Referrals to the food bank are made by agencies such as Citizen's Advice Bureau, children's centres and support groups who deem that a family or individual is facing real crisis.

Mr Lucas said: "Our referrers have a criteria for determining which families are in crisis, those who can't put food on the table after they have paid gas bills, rent.

"We don't tend to find that it is being abused."

He said they often saw a peak in the number of families being handed food during the school holidays but said he did not think there was an easy way prevent it.

"I don't think it is a simple issue because it is not just tied up with benefit system or the way in which families budget or are supported during school term.

"All of these things interplay with each other.

"I think the people who are dealing with this are at such a low ebb with their personal finances it doesn't take much to tip them into crisis.

"The Trussell Trust says we are all one pay cheque away from crisis and what that means is most people are living pay cheque to pay cheque.

"Cashflow is on a weekly or monthly basis and only a few have the luxury of savings or the capacity with their income to smooth over those peaks or troughs."

Over Easter they also handed out about 200 Easter eggs to children which made a big difference to them, Mr Lucas said.

The food bank is currently based at Carden Close near the city centre but needs a bigger base to help it expand its services to include supporting people to find employment as well as launching Baby Basics, to support struggling new parents.

"We have outgrown our current warehouse and need better facilities to help people especially those who are less agile.

"Also we have some great and ambitious plans to extend the way in which we provide services giving people hope and getting them back to being self sufficient."

Worcester Foodbank is currently in need of sponge puddings, 500g bags of rice, strong plastic bags for life, UHT milk, curry sauces and tin openers.

Collection points are at most city churches, The Guildhall, Sainsbury's in Barbourne and at Tesco supermarket in Warndon Villages.

People are also needed to volunteer particularly those with admin, warehouse or managerial skills.

To volunteer call 01905 780400 Monday, Wednesday or Friday from 11am to 2pm.