DESPERATE families in Hillingdon are resorting to searching supermarket bins for out of date food as a result of financial difficulty, according to a charity volunteer.

Christine Bamigbola (pictured) is a volunteer at the Hillingdon Foodbank, a charity which provides food to those in need, and has been running in the borough now for two years.

Based in Waterloo Road, Uxbridge, they are often used as a referral point by the council, and the volunteers often come face to face with hard working families at their lowest ebb.

She said: "In terms of where people come to us from its a real mix. Hayes is a very needy area but even in Uxbridge as well there is a huge need for us.

"A couple recently walked along the canal path all the way from Harefield as they had no money to come to us any other way, both had attempted suicide recently."

During the past year, the Foodbank has enjoyed a fruitful windfall being chosen as one of the outgoing Mayor of Hillingdon, Councillor David Yarrow's chosen charities.

This coming year the charity will not have the honour, and so they are hoping not to fall off people's radar, at a time when budget cuts and the era of austerity are deepening social divides.

"I think because we were the Mayor's charity last year we couldn't have asked for more. Next year will be the test to see what support we get from the council, it is important to have a service like this."

There are numerous Foodbank's around the country, and estimates show that around 61,000 people have been helped so far.

Despite this Mrs Bamigbola is concerned that not enough residents know of their existence.

"It would help if the job centre would direct people to us. Sometimes people don't realise we exist.

"There are people out there who turn to crime out of desperation.

"People go to the back of the shops in Uxbridge to get the food that is thrown out in the bins because it is past the sell by date, there is a real increase in this, Marks and Spencer's in Uxbridge is one of the places. It is going on a lot more now, because people have seen on television how much food is thrown out, most of which is perfectly edible."

In general the Foodbank has a good relationship with supermarkets, holding their first ever food collection event in Tesco's in Uxbridge High Street two and a half years ago, with Sainsbury's in the Lombardy Retail Park in Hayes also among their keen supporters.

She has also noticed how the coalition Government crackdown on benefits has also made life difficult for many unemployed claimants.

"If you are working, lose your job and end up on benefits it is a strange life. You are used to earning your own income and the benefits are not enough.

"A lot of people have had theirs stopped altogether with the changes to the benefits system. They are told 'you are not doing enough to find work' and they get cut off. Many are looking, it is very hard to find work.

"That person then has nothing to live on. There is no such thing as a crisis loan any more either.

"Many of our clients you see them walk down the High Street and you would never think they are in need.

"Often people are in work but still struggle with raising a family and paying their bills, the whole economic meltdown is still being felt."

The Foodbank are pushing for more volunteers, and would like to expand across the borough.

"We need more centres across Hillingdon and we would like more volunteers. There is only so much a few of us can do. If we can stop one person going to bed hungry then that is great."

To discuss volunteering with Hillingdon Foodbank, call 01895 252224.