A NEW Forest charity that provides essential food parcels to people in crisis believes the situation will worsen as government cuts slice deep into meagre budgets.

“I can see there’s going to be a great need because of the all the cuts at the minute,” said Lymington United Reformed Church secretary and New Forest Basics Bank volunteer Sandra Jackson.

She said 99 per cent of the people who are helped by the Basics Bank, located at the rear of the church in Lymington High Street, are genuinely in need.

“If they stop some of their benefits they will not be able to cope,” she said.

She said some people, those suffering from epilepsy or mental health problems, for instance, appear on the outside as if they should be able to manage the stresses and strains of everyday life.

“They look like they can cope with problems, but they can’t and it’s hard.”

The Basics Bank, which is organised by New Forest Churches Together, distributes between 35 and 45 food parcels every month to the needy and homeless, mainly in the west of the forest.

In Lymington and New Milton areas, the goods are delivered by Basics Bank members, but social services or housing agencies distribute parcels further afield, to places like Ringwood and Fordingbridge.

In addition to helping people in financial crisis, the bank will help homeless young people who “sofa surf” or people sleeping rough.

“There have been people living in cars, or they get out in the forest in tents – we had one down at the Salterns in Lymington, he was picked up by the Salvatian Army and they sorted him out – and even in this sort of weather.”

This Christmas, New Forest Basics Bank provided 190 parcels, each enough to feed a family of four on Christmas Day. As well as tins of food, there were puddings, serviettes, chocolates and crackers among the treats.

The bank also provided Christmas lunches for nine mums and 10 children at two New Forest women’s refuges.

Donations can be made to the bank on Tuesday, Wednesday or Friday mornings. Telephone 01590 610008.