THE Alton food bank has expanded its offering to include utility vouchers.

Located in the Market Square, the food bank is now able to issue Co-op vouchers to clients who are having difficulty affording utilities to cook the food provided and to heat their homes.

The vouchers are overprinted disallowing their use for tobacco, alcohol or the lottery.

On the national front, there is a move afoot to enhance this sort of provision.

Part of the 424-strong network of food banks across the UK, Alton food bank is overseen by the Trussell Trust charity which together with energy provider npower has successfully piloted a one year ‘Fuel Bank’ initiative which gives foodbank users, with pre-payment meters, vouchers for gas or electricity, so they do not have to choose between ‘heating and eating’.

Launched in April 2015 with The Trussell Trust, National Energy Action and Durham Christian Partnership, the npower Fuel Bank has so far been running in Kingston upon Thames, Durham, Gloucestershire, and the Wirral. In these four areas, more than 7,000 vouchers have been issued so far, meaning more than 16,000 adults and children have benefited from the help, regardless of whether they are npower customers or not.

Because the scheme gives people around two weeks’ worth of energy, the value of the voucher will fluctuate between the winter and summer months. From April to the end of October the value will be £30, which will increase to £49 from November through to the end of March.

Trussell Trust chief executive David McAuley said: “Across The Trussell Trust foodbank network we are seeing a real need all-year round for help with energy as well as food. Combining the distribution of food parcels with npower Fuel Bank vouchers will ensure that many thousands of people at foodbanks get the help they need to feed themselves and stay warm.”

Npower has committed at least £2.25m to this initiative until March 2018 and will be opening Fuel Banks in 10 new areas in the first half of 2016.

Alton, however, is expected to be a long way down the list. And John Jacobs, the town’s food bank manager, said: “We don’t have a date for the Alton food bank and I can’t see it happening in the near future.”