ANTI-POVERTY charities are calling on the Scottish Government and employers to do more to help families avoid crisis in a new report on foodbank use.

The study found that while gaps in the social security safety net are the key reason why people in Scotland are turning to foodbanks, action at a Scottish and local level could also help hard-pressed families.

The report is published by the Child Poverty Action Group (CPAG) in Scotland, in association with the Trussell Trust and Oxfam Scotland.

It builds upon UK-wide research titled Emergency Use Only, which found that for between half and two-thirds of food banks users interviewed, the immediate trigger for food bank use was linked to problems with benefits or missing tax credits.

The Scottish report launched today tells the stories of six families who have accessed food banks in central Scotland.

It makes a series of recommendations for Scottish policy makers, based on the Emergency Use Only findings, including facilitating access to emergency financial support like crisis grants and using future social security powers to be devolved to Scotland to boost family income.

John Dickie of CPAG in Scotland said: “Foodbank use and income crisis is increasing, largely as the result of changes to the social security system implemented by the UK Government, but regardless of what is triggering the income crisis, local authorities, the Scottish Government and employers have a real opportunity to do more to protect the health and wellbeing of children and families.

“They can all do more to poverty-proof services, improve access to affordable transport, support struggling employees and ensure all families get the benefits and tax credits they are entitled to. We urge the Scottish Government, local authorities and employers to listen to the often distressing stories told in this report and take a harder look at what could be done here and now to help hard-pressed families in the face of a failing UK social security system.”

Ewan Gurr from the Trussell Trust, said it was a “timely report” and welcomed the research and recommendations.

Social Justice Secretary Alex Neil MSP said: “It is unacceptable that anyone should experience food poverty in a country as wealthy as Scotland. This report builds on previous Trussell Trust research that shows welfare changes and benefit cuts are having a significant impact on the most vulnerable in Scotland. The Scottish Government is doing all it can to protect people.”