NEW statistics from the Ledbury Food Bank, given at the organisation's first annual general meeting, show that it helped almost 2500 people in one year, in a town of around 10,000 residents.

From October 2014 to November 2015, there were 919 individual visits made to the Food Bank, "resulting in food being provided for 2472 people".

The difference between the two figures is down to the fact that visitors to the Food Bank are often there not only for themselves but for their families also.

The Food Bank has also revealed that "there are wide fluctuations in demand both weekly and monthly".

The highest numbers are experienced around Christmas and Easter.

There is no typical user of the Food Bank, with clients ranging from single parents and single men to older females who are experiencing difficulty in re-entering the jobs market.

The first AGM of the Ledbury Foodbank was held on April 27 in St Katherine’s Hall, where the Food Bank is based, with the Rev’d Keith Hilton-Turvey in the chair.

About thirty trustees, volunteers, donors and others attended.

Liz Wreford, the coordinator, gave a report on the operations of the Food Bank.

She said: "Ledbury Food Bank operates because of the generous support of the local community; without that it could not exist."

And Mrs Wreford, a former mayoress of Ledbury, revealed the wide diversity of people making use of the facility.

She said: "There are occasional emergencies when distressed and homeless people arrive in a very sorry state and help is always given. Clients normally come with a referral voucher from an agency such as the probation or addiction services, health visitors, housing associations, schools, nurseries, Age UK and Ledbury Town Council.

"Single parent families with children under school age cannot work and great pressure is felt when there are long term health issues and operations to be dealt with. Clients include an increasing number of single men, many of whom have had injuries or health issues which add to the problems of finding work. Extended periods of stress and resorting to alcohol or drugs result in some showing signs of mental health problems. Older ladies find it difficult to re-enter the job market, which now demands IT skills which some do not have."

Mrs Wreford added: "There are also large families who struggle on low incomes and with these in mind vouchers are issued for the main school holidays to compensate for the loss of free school meals. At Christmas, ten festive boxes went to the Day Centre and another ten were delivered to those who receive “Meals on Wheels”.

Actual goods are received at many collection points including Ledbury's churches, the Master's House, Swimming Pool, TSB, Leadon Bank and, more recently, from the trolley at Tesco. Deliveries at the Food Bank itself come from numerous businesses, organisations and anonymous donors; fresh eggs, toilet rolls, chocolate, plums and apples, and vegetables from gardens and allotments among them."

Fresh fruit and vegetables and cooking lessons are also on offer.

Mrs Wreford added: "Clients have responded very positively to our introduction of fresh fruit and vegetables. A team of dedicated cooks has encouraged people to cook as well as open tins. Packs containing a recipe and all the necessary ingredients and a recipe are enthusiastically received; there is also a taster."