More than 700 local people are currently relying on the One Can Trust food bank to help them amid benefit cuts, the end of furlough and rising prices – prompting a plea for support from celebrity supporter Russell Brand.

The One Can Trust, which is based in High Wycombe but supports people in need across south Bucks, says demand is soaring at the highest rate in its history. The organisation is currently supporting a weekly average of more than 700 local people – double the levels it was seeing six months ago.

Andy Ford, the chair of One Can Trust, said the organisation has “not seen anything like this in our 10-year history”.

The dire situation has prompted celebrity ambassador Russell Brand, who lives in the Marlow area, to make a video highlighting current levels of poverty and asking his local community to support the food bank.

He said: “There’s no shame in requiring a little bit of help, even though I know people feel it, particularly as in the last six months the use of the One Can Trust has sky-rocketed because of furlough, cuts in Universal Credit and rising prices everywhere.

“I’m making this video to ask you, if you can afford to, to donate to the One Can Trust. I’m also making this video to ask you, if you need help from the One Can Trust, to reach out.

“Furthermore if you have food you can donate, to donate it to the One Can Trust, to support your community in any way you can.

“I’m also making this video to highlight the challenges ordinary people are feeling at this time – a time of poverty and great suffering and a time also of awakening where we’re coming to realise that there is no future for any of us unless we do our best to protect all of us.”

Back in August, the One Can Trust which supports individuals and families in High Wycombe and the surrounding areas, was supporting an average of 346 people a week. Latest figures show that number has tipped 700 a week in the first half of February.

During January there were 111 new referrals to the charity (a referral can be a single person or family).

The most common reason, as cited in 40 per cent of cases, was benefits being insufficient to afford food. This was followed by homelessness – 15 per cent; benefit delays eight per cent and insufficient wages six per cent.

Andy Ford, the Chair of One Can Trust, said: “We’ve not seen anything like this in our 10 year history.

“As we’d feared, those autumn changes - benefit cuts and the end of furlough, coupled with rising prices - have made the situation much worse. It was at that point that demand really started to surge.

“What’s really alarming is that we haven’t even got to the rises in energy prices and National Insurance. Things could be catastrophic unless the government steps in to do more and we are dreading what’s around the corner.”

Speaking to High Wycombe councillors in January, food bank trustee and former councillor Graham Peart said £54,000-worth of food was distributed to people in need in December alone.

He said: “A lady arrived at our door a couple of weeks ago and she hadn’t fed her children in 24 hours. She had no money left and no food. This is not unusual, it’s a really sad situation.

“We had 75 delivery drivers in the week before Christmas. That gives you some idea of the scale.

“There were 108 new referrals in December alone. The month before was 87, month before 57. It’s a very steep curve of people we have never seen before coming to us for assistance.”

Kim*, a single mum to a toddler who uses the food bank, said it feels like people are “being set up to fail”.

She said: “You don’t have to be an expert in maths to see that increases in costs are simply going to make the basics unaffordable. I’ve already been making the choice between heating and food but continuing price rises will stop it being a choice altogether.

“The government have recognised the need to increase the national living wage to keep up with inflation but there is nothing similar to keep those on benefits afloat. I’m finding it harder and harder each month. It’s just impossible really.

“I get paid on the 19th and the next day there’s £80 left to cover food, transport, clothes etc or anything unexpected for me and my child.

“It can really get you down thinking you don’t have the money to buy small things, like replacing a broken cup or ripped shoes.

“We usually go to see my autistic brother every two weeks and that’s a £4 bus ride each time. Last month I couldn’t afford to see him, it was that tight.”

To find out more about One Can Trust and how you can help, go to onecantrust.org.uk or visit their Facebook page.

*Kim's name has been changed to protect her identity