I WAS glad to see the letter written by St Briavels Parochial Church Council last week.

Among those using the food banks in increasing numbers are those who  have lost their jobs as well as those who are working all hours but still cannot afford to pay household bills.

Most worryingly is an increase in numbers of people with disabilities. Disability Living Allowance (not to be confused with ESA or Incapacity Benefit) is paid to disabled people to help them cover the cost associated with their disability.

For instance it might help them pay for transport to school, work or a day centre. It might help them buy equipment or pays bills that are higher than for most other people.

This benefit is being phased out and replaced by Personal Independence Payment. A person's disability has to be assessed either at a home visit or a trip to an assessment centre that could be miles away.

If you apply for PIP now you will not receive any money for at least six months after you make your  application (unless you have less than six months to live in which you should receive the benefit in one month.)

This is due to a backlog that the government refuses to address. The most vulnerable members of our community are being isolated and neglected in a way that most people, regardless of their political leanings, would find totally unacceptable.

There is a great deal of misinformation about those who are forced to use food banks. It is not possible for someone to just turn up and get free food.

A person's need has to be assessed by organisations such as the Citizens' Advice Bureau. They can determine if there are any other options that can be explored and  the number of trips to a food bank is very limited.

Last year the EU wanted to establish a fund called European Aid  to the Most Deprived. This fund worth £3.5 billion can be shared out among the member states specifically to provide help to food banks  for the next six years.

Unfortunately for food banks, anti-EU feeling was high and the government knew it could hardly talk about wanting to renegotiate or leave the EU and then take a handout.

It was also aware that by accepting this money it might be admitting that benefit reform was going badly wrong.

All Conservative MEPs, all UKIP MEPs and some of the Liberals voted against this fund being established.

Most of the other MEPs voted in favour so the fund exists but the government refuses to give any of the allocated money to food banks.

In addition it will be scrapping £180million a year  of funds next year for local councils to administer to those most in need.

There is a growing crisis developing that is being denied by the government which would like us to believe that food bank users are scroungers.

It is quite clear to anyone who works with food banks or refers people to them that this couldn't be further from the truth.

– Gordon Elsmore, Bream.