IT is a disturbing fact of modern life, and perhaps one we don't care to think about too much, that families in 21st century Britain are having to rely on food handouts.

In 2015 the Bradford Metropolitan Food Bank gave out just over 11,000 food parcels.

"The first seven months of this year indicate that we will at least repeat that, and are likely to exceed it," says treasurer Keith Thomson.

"Disappointingly, we haven't noticed any downturn in demand.

"We have averaged around 900 bags, with a bigger demand normally being made in the autumn and winter months still to come.

"In 2010 we gave out around 1,500 food bags and spent less than £500 on buying in foot items, while last year it was over 11,000 food bags and we spent around £35,000, all of which came from many small donations from Bradford folk, and support from one or two local firms."

The Food Bank, run by volunteers, was set up in 2004 by Lashman Singh, who was already running the Bradford Curry Project.

While the Curry Project serves hot meals to homeless people (the term 'curry' is used as a generic term for 'food') on a drop-in basis near the city centre, the Food Bank is aimed at helping families across the district.

Community workers, including professionals working in social services, housing associations and family centres, identify those in need.

The only registered independent charity food bank in Bradford, it relies on volunteers to collect and pack food donations.

In its first year, the Food Bank distributed 300 bags; by 2010 it was 1,000. The number has steadily grown - in 2011, a total of 1,500 food parcels were distributed; in 2012 it was 3,500; in 2013 it was 7,850 and in 2014 the Food Bank gave out 10,000. This increased to 11,033 in 2015. Keith says last year's parcels contained more than £150,000 worth of food.

Lashman says benefit changes, redundancy and debt have been significant factors in the rise of families dependent on food parcels. He appealed to more businesses, schools and religious organisations to set up collection points for non-perishable food.

"We can collect the donations," he says.

"Food poverty is a big problem in Bradford - we need as many donations as we can get."

The Food Bank uses vacant premises at St Mary's Church in Barkerend for storage and packing, but faces having to seek an alternative site if the planned sale of the church goes ahead.

"We're not far short of supplying food to the value of almost £200,000," says Mr Thomson.

"While this is quite shocking in terms of the numbers of people in the district who are struggling with welfare benefit changes, sanctions, unemployment, and mental health problems - all against a background of rising rent levels in the private sector and the prospect of considerable confusion with the introduction of the new universal credit system in the next year - the positive side is the way the people of Bradford have responded.

"We receive remarkable support in terms of regular food collections. Nearly 80 per cent of donations comes from from individuals, schools, churches, mosques, gurdwaras, places of work, council meetings and collections by volunteers at supermarkets, as well as the annual scavenging for food left in 30,000 abandoned tents at the end of Leeds Festival.

"We will be there again this year and expect to collect over 50 large boxes of food."

While food parcels are made of non-perishable items, volunteers buy other staple items from local supermarkets.

"They give us the lowest price they can," says Mr Thomson.

"Last year we spent £30,000 on food and our income, donations from churches, firms, individuals, schools and charity events just kept pace with our needs."

He adds: "We never see the people that tuck into our food bags as we only deal with the professionals who support those at risk and the vulnerable. "We supply over 100 organisations including social service departments, housing associations, the NHS, community centres, child care providers, mental health groups, doctors, ministers, imams, headteachers and charities.

"We believe it is important for such professionals to offer their clients something tangible, as well as advice, and they collect food bags from our depot or from committee members' houses. This means our food bags are available seven days a week, as the need arises."