Section:GDN 1N PaGe:17 Edition Date:190830 Edition:01 Zone: Sent at 29/8/2019 19:44 cYanmaGentaYellowb
Friday 30 Aug ust 2019 The Guardian •
17Blue badge parking
open to people with
hidden disabilities
PA MediaPeople with hidden disabilities can
apply for blue badge parking permits
from today.
The scheme’s eligibility criteriain England ha ve been expanded by
the Department for Transport (DfT)
to include people who cannot walk
without considerable psychological
distress or risking serious harm. This
will make it easier for people with con-
ditions such as anxiety disorders or
brain injuries to travel to work, social-
ise and access shops and services.
It is the biggest change to the blue
badge scheme since it was introduced
in 1970. Around 2.4 million people
with physical disabilities in England
already have a badge.
The permits often enable holders topark free of charge in pay and display
bays and for up to three hours on yel-
low lines, and in London they exempt
holders from the congestion charge.
The transport secretary, Grant
Shapps, said: “We know that for some
people, the possibility of not being able
to fi nd a parking space can make even
leaving the house a challenge, which
is why the blue badge is so important.
“The scheme, which is a lifeline for
so many disabled people, will make
a huge diff erence to those with non-
visible conditions such as autism,
dementia, Parkinson’s and arthritis. ” Donations to
the Salvation
Army in Preston
have fallen 80%
in a year, even
as referrals
rise, says Claire
Bowerman (left)
PHOTOGRAPH: COLIN
MCPHERSON/THE
GUARDIAN‘ We’re seeing more
and more families,
and more of them
are workling. It’s a
really sad situation’Claire Bowerman
Food bank volunteerchildren during the summer holidays
- an increase of 20% from the previ-
ous year – as part of 239,196 three-day
emergency supplies. Foods banks in
Preston, Leeds, Watford, Salford,
Bradford, Newcastle, Merseyside, Not-
tingham and north-east Somerset are
among those that ha ve experienced a
shortage of supplies during the school
holidays this year.
Andrew Tranter , 75, who runs Wat-
ford food bank, said while the shelves
were usually well-stocked in winter,
owing to higher donations during the
harvest festival and at Christmas, sup-
plies often dwindled in the summer.
But, he added, there had been a
year-on-year increase in demand. “Our
stock in last month was six tonnes, and
we gave out seven and a half tonnes.
So far this month, we’ve received three
tonnes of donations but given out
three and a half tonnes,” said Tranter.
Many food banks are now using up
funds from online donations to stock
up supplies, including at Waterloo in
Lambeth, south London.
The centre’s manager, Rebekah
Gibson , said it was “struggling for
supplies” after helping 450 people
this summer – up 20% on last year.
“This year we’re running a holiday
programme for families, including
hot lunches and breakfast some days,
as well as activities and trips. Despite
this, we are still seeing a lot of families
at the food bank,” she added.
The Trussell Trust’s chief execu-
tive, Emma Revie, said: “An increase
in demand during the summer holi-
days can sometimes lead to a shortage
in supplies. When this is the case, we
urge the public to check with their
local food bank to see what they might
be short of.
“An emergency food parcel, listen-
ing ear and compassionate, practical
advice ... can be the boost someone
needs to break free from poverty. ”
With September’s harvest festival
on the horizon, during which many
schools donate food to food banks,
most sites are expecting supplies to
begin to pick up.
However, some were expecting the
worst during the last two weeks of the
school holidays. “There will proba-
bly be even more families coming in
... because of the additional costs of
school uniforms,” said Ryder.grew over the years, the service
evolved into a staff ed food bank.
Since July, 180 individuals and
families – some with as many as
seven children – have sought help.
Since the same month last year,
donations have dropped by about
80% but referrals have risen 150%.
While Bowerman blamed the
rise in need on the recent rollout
of universal credit in the area –
“everything got a bit stricter and
tighter” – she was less certain of the
reason for the drop in donations.
“People may be a bit fed up of
donating or continuously seeing
our appeals. Maybe people haven’t
got the money any more. Every
food bank is in need,” she said. Last
Friday morning, Bowerman and
her colleague Natalie Thomas were
preparing to distribute 70 bags of
non-perishable food and toiletries.
Twenty were set aside for families
with young children to feed in the
holidays, with treats such as cordial
and crisps. Baby food, wipes and
nappies were on standby on a shelf.
The last month ha s been a
particularly “emotional” time. “We
get lots of people who feel really
ashamed to be here, and lots who
are crying – especially mums,” said
Thomas. “When they come to our
window they are often so upset.”
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