One of the organisers of the new North Ayrshire foodbank has said that local people would be surprised by ‘the amount of poverty’ which exists in the local area.

We reported last month that Kirktonhall Creative Media Group have offered the support the Foodbank by acting as a distribution point at their premises at 6 Ritchie Street, West Kilbride for those in need of a food box but also as a point for donation of food items. Good numbers have been reported using the the new amenity, Mr Jurie Duvenage, who is secretary of the Kirktonhall Media Group, said: “I am quite surprised by the amount of people who are using it- it has been really going well and a lot of people have been using it. The recent article in the Largs and Millport News helped a lot in publicising it.

“We are now going to issue vouchers for people who use the foodbank. Poverty is quite high, and it is higher than what local people may be aware of.

“There are people from outwith West Kilbride who have been using the Foodbank including from the Largs area. It is building up as people are becoming aware of it.” Food donations can be left at Kirktonhall Creative Media Group Offices at 6 Ritchie Street, between 10am and 12.30pm, See the North Ayrshire Foodbank website at northayrshire.foodbank.org.uk for details of what items are needed.

Foodbank co-ordinator Craig Crosthwaite said: “This is a great development as we have a concern about reducing the distance between a person receiving a food voucher and actually collecting the foodbox. If a person is experiencing a crisis they are unlikely to have the funds to travel to Ardrossan, Irvine, or Kilbirnie.”