'People steal from charity shop every day - they're desperate'
BBCA charity offering low-cost food and household essentials is seeing daily thefts as people are "desperate", its manager said.
St Vincent's Social Enterprise, based in the Barkerend area of Bradford, offers everything from furniture to fresh fruit and vegetables.
As well as its store, it offers a community cafe, garden and a council-funded advice service.
Manager Julie-Anne Webb said she did not want anyone "feeling that they have to come in and steal a pair of shoes for their child to go to school", adding: "Come in and ask us and we'll always help."
The charity's latest offering is a collaboration with Surplus To Purpose, a Leeds-based enterprise that sells surplus food for low prices.
Ms Webb said: "We noticed the need in the community for food.
"There's some serious deprivation in the BD3 area."
The Surplus to Purpose shop was opened on Monday 17 March, and by lunchtime had sold out of fresh produce.
St Vincent's also offers a food bank which provides free parcels, but these soon run out every week.
Ms Webb said: "We'll always put something together because we don't want to send anyone away hungry.
"But equally we have people who say 'I don't want to use a food bank because I'm not in that level of need', and if they can afford to pay something they feel there is a bit more dignity to it."
The rising cost of living is contributing to an increasing number of people using St Vincent's to make ends meet, and Ms Webb said recent welfare changes had only increased people's anxiety about money.
Incapacity benefits under universal credit will be frozen in cash terms for existing claimants at £97 per week from April next year - this means they will not be increased in line with inflation until 2029/30.
The amount will be reduced to £50 per week in 2026/2027 for new claimants.
Sameena Akhtar said she collected occasional food parcels and other goods from St Vincent's.
The 62-year-old said: "It's been very difficult because I'm on low benefits, so I come here because I can get cheap stuff, like clothes and bric-a-brac.
"I have to pay my rent out of my benefits and once all my direct debits are out I'm left with about £60."
Ms Akhtar said full-time work was not an option as she suffered spasms in her back following an accident and struggled with her vision before she had a cataract removed.
Ms Webb said the increase in thefts at St Vincent's was an "unfortunate sign of the times".
She said: "Everything is going up and that means that high street stores are experiencing more theft and so are we."
Items commonly stolen include shoes and children's coats.
"People are choosing heating over eating or paying the rent or the children might need a new pair of shoes," Ms Webb said.
"So all those little things add up for people and they're not having the money to buy their shopping."
The changes to welfare announced by the government include a £1bn package of support to help people with disabilities and long-term conditions into work.
But Ms Webb said more and more people coming for help were already working.
"I can see it getting worse, in all honesty," she said.
"It's a pessimistic view but we see it every day."
As the welfare changes were announced, Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall said: "We will ensure that our welfare system protects people.
"There will always be some people who cannot work because of their disability or health condition.
"Protecting people in need is a principle we will never compromise on."
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