Food bank caseworkers have “transformative” impact

Casework support at Hackney Foodbank has a “substantial economic impact” on people experiencing hardship, according to an independent report.

The report, carried out by The Evaluator, concluded that caseworkers supporting visitors to Hackney Foodbank help to restore stability and dignity. It states: “The casework service offers something not typically found in many services; time, trust and steady guidance through complexity. Its impact is felt across emotional, practical and financial outcomes - and in the relief expressed by visitors who say, simply, that they could not have managed without it.

“The economic impact of helping visitors is estimated at over £1million locally per year. In fact, 82% of the visitors helped were entitled to more benefits.

“To many, the overall impact was transformative.”