An Aberdeenshire councillor has warned “the worst is yet to come” when it comes to the true impact of coronavirus on the region.
With thousands being left unemployed through lockdown, and many people battling other significant financial burdens brought about by Covid-19, scores of families and individuals have been struggling to put food on the table.
Over the past few months, requests for foodbank help has gone up by as much as 540% in some areas.
Now Gwyneth Petrie, group leader of the SNP, has urged people to “keep up” their support and community spirit.
At the last full meeting of Aberdeenshire Council – she stressed to her colleagues that the local authority’s priority should be the rise in vulnerable people.
She sparred with Aboyne councillor Paul Gibb when he questioned the support for people buying new homes.
Last night, she added: “There is a perception that in places such as Royal Deeside – where there are connotations of money – that this kind of poverty just doesn’t exist.
“Even in Huntly, where I live, there is one of the lowest average income figures in the region.
“There is no doubt that vulnerability will have risen as a result of the pandemic and will continue to to so. The worst is yet to come as the furlough scheme will end at some point, and we’re already seeing news of redundancies day after day.
“Out focus needs to be on people who have lost jobs, are struggling to receive Universal Credit, who need access to a foodbank.”
In North Aberdeenshire, there was a a 75% increase in the number of people fed this year compared to the same timeframe from the start of April to mid-May 2019.
That included a 69% increase in adults, and a “staggering” 90% increase in children.
Mrs Petrie has urged both the council and communities to “keep up” lockdown levels of support for vulnerable people.
And, as schools return, care needs to be given to young people.
The Huntly councillor, who has her own school-aged child, added: “Teenagers and young adults do need to be kept an eye out and supported – they’ve been through so much, especially those going through a transition period with exams .
“Many parents are of course distracted by the pandemic and young people have been in a social media bubble for the last few months.
“As a whole, we need to build on what we’ve done through lockdown, and keep checking on people, think how your friend, your child or your neighbour may be impacted by what is going on.”