GLENN Tilbrook’s ‘Tour for Foodbanks’ came to Salisbury last week, with the shows promoting awareness and gathering donations for a Salisbury-based charity.

The collection raised over £50 in cash and the Trussell Trust said thef ood collection basket was full and in total the public gave 23.3kg’s of food on the night, including some items like toilet rolls.

Tilbrook, from British rock band Squeeze, is using his ongoing solo tour to promote The Trussell Trust, the charity that supports a network of foodbanks around the UK, and has so far received an “amazing response”.

At most venues there will be food drop-off points and collection boxes, and Glenn will also be donating all profits from his merchandise to the charity.

Glenn explains that the inspiration for this idea came from watching a programme on BBC Scotland: “I watched a programme on iPlayer about foodbanks, and it really stayed with me.

“The grinding desperation of people who don’t have enough food to put on the table for their kids.

“Anyone can end up in that situation and I’m ashamed that in 2018 our politicians can’t come up with a better solution.”

Audience members will be able to donate non-perishable foods and other essential items at most venues, where they will be collected by the local foodbank.

Glenn also said that foodbanks are not the definitive answer to a larger crisis:“I think there’s a demonisation of poor people that’s been going on too long, where they somehow seem as spongers if they don’t have enough money.”

“I grew up in council housing and my parents can remember when being poor was an awful stigma.

“You had no help from the government, and we seem to be gradually wending our way back to that position.”

Amy Llewellyn, head of public fundraising at The Trussel Trust, said: “We are really pleased that Glenn and the guys could come here while they are in Salisbury, but the fact that it’s a UK-wide tour and they are visiting so many places where there are also food banks, it is raising the profile and helping people that may need to use banks, which is really important.”

“It really helps to have a lot of stock, especially around this time of year with Christmas coming up.”

Richard Bolton, who volunteered at the food collection point on the night, stayed for the concert and said: “He’s [Glenn] a top man; not only a consummate musician, but a man with a very big heart.

"He generated a great atmosphere and gave a few shout outs to the Trussell Trust, what more can you want?”

The Trussell Trust is based on the Ashfield Trading Estate near Churchfields in Salisbury, or can be contacted via their website: trusseltrust.org, or on 01722580180.