COMMUNITY services should come together to support those living in poverty, East Lothian Foodbank’s manager has suggested, after the service saw its busiest year yet.

Methods for tackling the root causes of inequality instead of just offering help once people are already struggling was one of the key messages during the foodbank's recent annual general meeting.

Simon Ray began the meeting on Friday by introducing himself to representatives, councillors and volunteers from across communities.

Having only joined the foodbank as a volunteer last October, Simon then took on the role of chair in May, and hosted his first AGM following a busy six months.

He outlined the foodbank’s impact over 2023/24, revealing that over the 12-month period, it provided 124,893 meals, an average of more than 2,400 every week.

The service received 5,722 requests for support, including from 816 first-time users, meaning that support was delivered to more people than ever before.

March ended the busiest year in the foodbank’s history, as demand for its services went up 12 per cent.

Elaine Morrison, manager of the Tranent-based foodbank, then highlighted how an integrated approach from local services was the way forward to offering the best level of support.

She said: “The relationships we have with our key partners in East Lothian are really important to make sure that we can continue to deliver our service.

“We’re still seeing unprecedented numbers through our doors.

READ MORE: Foodbank use in East Lothian up 99 per cent in three years

“We’re coming into winter, which is always a very busy time for us and a very difficult time for people who are in poverty in the community.”

Volunteers have given up their time to support the foodbank's work, with 114 people offering their time in the past year – up 40 per cent from 2022/23.

Alongside the foodbank’s food distribution services, it was also pledged to expand its focus on prevention.

Elaine called for a united front between support services across East Lothian to offer as much help as possible from all angles to those who needed it.

Pensioners have been among the hardest hit in recent years and there had been a sharp increase in the support needed, Elaine stated.

She then hosted a discussion with Michaela Taylor, co-ordinator at the Working for Change Collective (WFCC), a group aiming to help people who have experienced hardships and want to make changes in the community.

Tributes were first given to co-founder Sean Crawford, who passed away earlier this year.

READ MORE: Tributes after sudden death of Haddington dad, aged 37

Elaine said: “He was a force to be reckoned with. He will be missed.”

Michaela outlined the WFCC’s three-step plan: voices heard, responses taken, actions given. These guidelines showcase how the group actively implements change and meets people where they are.

She told attendees: “The people that are going through these struggles, they are the ones that know what they need. It is about giving a voice to people who don’t feel like they’re heard.

“It is about responding to people’s hardships – it is not just figures.”

Additionally, the foodbank launched its emergency fuel fund in December, supported by Musselburgh Area Partnership, to assist local families in extreme fuel poverty.

The foodbank’s money advice service, in partnership with Musselburgh CAB, was used by 132 people over the past year, helping them to claim a combined £139,024.

A total of 252 blankets were given out, as well as 168 emergency parcels distributed in the week before Christmas.

East Linton Community Wellbeing & Advice Café also opened in February, giving easy access to a variety of support.

Simon thanked everyone for their support as the foodbank battled with the continued rise in demand which the service faced.