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Food banks see donations surge after being criticised by Mail on Sunday Food banks see donations surge after being criticised by Mail on Sunday
(about 1 hour later)
Britain's biggest food bank provider has seen a surge in donations following a Mail on Sunday article criticised the charity for failing to run proper checks on people claiming food parcels. Britain's biggest food bank provider has seen a surge in donations after a Mail on Sunday article criticised the charity for failing to run proper checks on people claiming food parcels.
Before the article there had only been about 250 public donations since the Trussell Trust launched its JustGiving page in late January. But as of late yesterday afternoon, the number of donations had jumped to over 2,000, worth more than £19,000. Several donors cited the Mail article as the reason for making a donation. Before the article there had been about 250 public donations since the Trussell Trust launched its JustGiving page in late January. As of Sunday evening, the number of donations had jumped to more than 2,000, worth over £19,000. Several donors cited the Mail article as the reason for contributing.
"The Mail story appalled me. This is the least I can do to apologise for their crime," said Anonymous after donating £10."The Mail story appalled me. This is the least I can do to apologise for their crime," said Anonymous after donating £10.
Another, Spitting Feathers, said: "I am incensed by the disgraceful article. Call this journalism? I don't. I'm not a Christian and admire the work being done by human beings for their fellow human beings. Thank you."Another, Spitting Feathers, said: "I am incensed by the disgraceful article. Call this journalism? I don't. I'm not a Christian and admire the work being done by human beings for their fellow human beings. Thank you."
The Mail said it carried out an investigation which found that volunteers did not carry out adequate checks on those who claim vouchers and that one of its reporters obtained three days' worth of food simply by telling staff at a Citizen's Advice Bureau – without any proof – that he was unemployed. Many claiming food parcels were also asylum-seekers, the paper reported. The Mail said it carried out an investigation which found that volunteers did not carry out adequate checks on those who claim vouchers and one of its reporters obtained three days' food simply by telling staff at a Citizens Advice bureau – without any proof – that he was unemployed. Many claiming food parcels were also asylum seekers, the paper reported.
The Mail also cast doubt on the Trust's widely reported claims that almost a million people would use one of its food banks this year, an increase of 163% on the previous year, and part of a trend that has seen use of the Trust's food banks increase tenfold since 2010. The Mail also cast doubt on the trust's widely reported claims that almost a million people would use one of its food banks this year, up 163% on the previous year and part of a trend that has seen use of the trust's food banks increase tenfold since 2010.
Officials at the work and pensions department, led by Iain Duncan Smith, have attacked the Trussell Trust of "misleading and emotionally manipulative publicity-seeking" and "of aggressively marketing their services". But David Cameron has praised the "provision of food banks", indicating the government's ambivalent attitude towards them. Officials at the Department for Work and Pensions accused the trust of "misleading and emotionally manipulative publicity-seeking" and "aggressively marketing their services". But David Cameron has praised the provision of food banks, indicating the government's ambivalent attitude towards them.
Chris Mould, chairman of the Trussell Trust, told the Observer Cameron had a constructive half-hour meeting with the charity in February. Duncan Smith earlier refused to deal with the charity, accusing it of "scaremongering" and advancing a political agenda. Chris Mould, chairman of the Trussell Trust, told the Observer Cameron had a constructive half-hour meeting with the charity in February. Iain Duncan Smith, the work and pensions secretary, had refused to deal with the charity, accusing it of scaremongering" and advancing a political agenda.
Christian leaders have increasingly put pressure on the government to tackle food poverty; they recently signed a letter demanding action from ministers and archbishop Justin Welby mentioned food banks in his Easter Sunday message. Christian leaders have increasingly put pressure on the government to tackle food poverty and recently signed a letter demanding action from ministers and archbishop Justin Welby mentioned food banks in his Easter Sunday message.
"In this country, even as the economy improves, there is weeping in broken families, in people ashamed to seek help from food banks, or frightened by debt," he said."In this country, even as the economy improves, there is weeping in broken families, in people ashamed to seek help from food banks, or frightened by debt," he said.
As for the Mail article, the Trust said in a statement – given to the paper ahead of the article – that they disapproved of the methods the paper used to get its story. As for the Mail article, the trust said in a statement – given to the paper ahead of the article – that they disapproved of the methods the paper used to get its story.
"The Trussell Trust feels that these undercover methods, used by Daily Mail journalists, to enter the premises of our voluntarily run food banks is an unacceptable attempt to tarnish not only the name of the Trussell Trust, but also the valuable efforts of the 30,000 volunteers who selflessly give up their time to provide a valuable service to people in real need." "The Trussell Trust feels that These undercover methods, used by Daily Mail journalists, to enter the premises of our voluntarily run food banks is an unacceptable attempt to tarnish not only the name of the Trussell Trust, but also the valuable efforts of the 30,000 volunteers who selflessly give up their time to provide a valuable service to people in real need"
Following the surge in donations, first reported on the BuzzFeed news site, the Trussell Trust tweeted: We're blown away by the response to the Daily Mail article on Twitter! Over £15,000 raised for Trussell Trust's Easter appeal #THANKYOUFollowing the surge in donations, first reported on the BuzzFeed news site, the Trussell Trust tweeted: We're blown away by the response to the Daily Mail article on Twitter! Over £15,000 raised for Trussell Trust's Easter appeal #THANKYOU