FOOD campaigners have laid out how vital the £20 boost to Universal Credit is for struggling Clydebank families - and the crisis they face if it is taken away.

West Dunbartonshire Community Foodshare (WDCF) has displayed the table of food that could feed those in need with the benefits uplift set to be removed within weeks.

As the furlough scheme is also nearly finished, campaigners and politicians are warning the situation could force desperate choices for parents to feed their children.

Clair Coyle, trustee at WDCF told the Post: “We are very concerned about how busy we may get over the coming months.

“With the furlough scheme ending in September and the UK Government removing the £20 uplift to Universal Credit soon, we are expecting an increase in the number of people affected by food insecurity.

“The £20 uplift to Universal Credit has made the difference between individuals and families being able to eat or not each week. The impact of these schemes ending will have a detrimental effect on many people in our community.”

She added: “We are very thankful for the support shown to the charity since the start of the pandemic, although once again, we need to ask for your help.”

The charity is running low on supplies of tinned potatoes, tinned vegetables, tomato sauce, brown sugar, vinegar, tinned meat and tuna, rice sauces, sugar, coffee, stock cubes, toilet rolls and toiletries.

A full list of the items required can be found at the charity’s Facebook page.

Donated items can be dropped off at the charity’s donation points at Asda in Clydebank, Lidl in Yoker, Sainsbury’s in Drumchapel and the Golden Jubilee National Hospital.

There are also money donation boxes at the Keystores in Kilbowie Road, Hardgate, Faifley and Parkhall.

West Dunbartonshire MP Martin Docherty-Hughes said: “For the Tories to cut £1,040 per year from the household budgets of the poorest families in West Dunbartonshire is unconscionable.

“Losing £20 per week may not seem like much to Boris Johnson, but for many of my constituents it’s the difference between whether or not they can put a decent meal on the table.

“If the UK Government pushes ahead with these cuts to Universal Credit it will needlessly push tens of thousands of Scottish families further into poverty.”

WDCF has been extremely busy over the summer with the number of individuals and families needing emergency food provision remaining high.

And their Brunch Bag project over the summer, funded by Cash For Kids, supported 704 children.

Ms Coyle said: “We delivered a weekly bag containing breakfast cereal, five tins of soup/macaroni cheese, bread, milk, fruit, juice, biscuits, cold meat, yoghurts, pasta and crisps. In the first two weeks, we also included factor 50 sun lotion – this was very kindly donated by the staff and customers of the Royal Bank of Scotland in Clydebank and Dumbarton.

“The Uniform Bank has supported 79 children with uniform items for returning to school in August. The Uniform Bank runs throughout the year and still has lots of stock should anyone be in need.

“The Babybank is very well stocked at present and items are available to anyone. We have prams, cribs, bouncy chairs, sterilisers etc., as well as lots of new and preloved clothing from newborn to age four.”