Business
Dad-of-three turns to Worcester food bank after job loss
BBCA single dad-of-three said he was forced to move in with his parents and rely on a food bank when “things just went downhill quick” after losing his job.
Luke Harborne worked as a roofer up until December but admitted he did not know what he would do if he had no access to Worcester’s food bank.
“I don’t know what would happen, I really don’t,” the 30-year-old said.
“The people here are absolutely brilliant, they’re such lovely people and all of them have a heart of gold to do what they do.”
Mr Harborne had been in shared accommodation in Kingstanding, Birmingham, but when he became unemployed, he fell behind with his rent payments and lived on the streets before his parents in Worcester took him in.
“My mum and dad agreed to let me live back there but I’m just struggling at the minute,” he said.
“It’s very, very tough [providing for three children]. It’s hard to survive off benefits, it really is.”
Mr Harborne said he was even struggling while he was employed.
“I managed to cope with the wages I had coming in but all my money was going on rent and bills,” he said.
“The rest went on food but that didn’t last me until my next payday.
“I need to get myself back in employment and I am actively looking but it’s tough because I have to work around child arrangements so it’s hard to commit to a full-time job.
“You need a really good job, that pays really well just to get a one-bedroom flat. But I will get there. It’s just hard to survive.”
At the food bank, Grahame Lucas said he worked to “turn frowns upside down”.
“It’s a bit corny, I know, but people come here perhaps not feeling the most positive but they walk away with a smile on their face,” he added.
Mr Lucas has been manager of Worcester Foodbank since 2014 and said in that time the charity has “grown out of all recognition”.
“We started out feeding about 3,000 people a year and prior to Covid up to about 9,000 people and now we’re up to 18,000 people,” he said.
“We’re now braced for the autumn rush, when people start getting their energy bills on the doormat. This is by far the busiest period.”
Mr Lucas and his team provide about 250,000 meals annually, at a cost of £500,000.
The service also provides “cooking parcels”, which include herbs and spices, as well as a toiletries hamper too.
“Clients have said to us that we’re lifesavers and without us people have admitted they would be forced to shoplift just to survive,” Mr Lucas said.
Mr Lucas said the charity had served “all age groups” which “goes right through to people who are retired”.
“That group is much less because, what we find, the state pension system works well – whereas the benefits system is still deficient,” he said.
“I think the system is broken.”
The food bank manager said he sympathised with government and described changing the system as an “oil tanker moment” that would be a “long-term project”.
Susan Campbell, deputy warehouse manager at Worcester Foodbank, is responsible for greeting clients.
“The stories are really sad and you want to do more than just give them food,” she said.
“You hear all sorts and you just try to make them feel better about the whole thing.”
She added the numbers coming to them have “got much, much worse” and they were seeing more and more families.
“People tend to assume we’re serving the homeless but it’s just not true,” Ms Campbell said.
“Lots of people that come here are working and they just can’t afford to live.”
A Department for Work and Pensions spokesperson told the BBC it was “determined to tackle the unacceptable rise in food bank dependence”.
They added: “Our child poverty taskforce will publish an ambitious strategy later this year.
“We are also overhauling job centres and reforming the broken welfare system to support people into good, secure jobs, while always protecting those who need it most.”
Last Updated:
Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority mandates OTP or e-sign authentication for National Pension System online registration.
News18
The Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority) has tightened the process for paperless onboarding under the National Pension System (National Pension System), making OTP- or e-sign-based authentication mandatory at the final stage of online registration.
In a circular dated January 2, 2026, the regulator asked all Central Recordkeeping Agencies (CRAs), Points of Presence (POPs), and other NPS stakeholders to align their systems with the updated requirements.
What has changed
The new circular partially modifies the earlier June 2020 guidelines that allowed paperless NPS account opening using either e-sign or OTP. While both modes remain valid, the regulator has now clarified that authentication through e-sign or OTP received on the applicant’s registered mobile number is compulsory to complete the online registration journey.
Importantly, subscriber consent and all mandatory declarations must now be explicitly obtained at the end of the digital onboarding process through the same authentication method.
Why the Move Matters
The clarification aims to strengthen the integrity of digital onboarding and ensure that subscriber consent is clearly recorded. By mandating authentication at the final stage, the regulator seeks to reduce disputes, improve audit trails, and enhance subscriber protection in a fully paperless environment.
The move also aligns NPS onboarding with broader trends in digital financial services, where OTP and e-sign authentication have become standard practice.
What CRAs and POPs Must Do
The regulator has directed CRAs and POPs to update their IT systems, workflows, and subscriber journeys in line with the revised norms. This includes ensuring that online forms cannot be submitted without successful OTP or e-sign verification.
The circular has been issued under powers granted by Section 14 of the PFRDA Act, 2013, making compliance mandatory for all stakeholders.
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January 05, 2026, 16:13 IST
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The price of gold in Pakistan saw one of the biggest surges ever in both global and Pakistani markets on Monday.
According to the All Pakistan Sarafa Gems and Jewellers Association (APSGJA), the price of 24-karat gold increased by a massive Rs9,200 per tola, reaching Rs464,762, as global rates rose amid steady investor demand.
The price of 10 grams of gold also climbed by Rs7,888 to Rs398,452, according to the APSGJA.
The price of 10g of 22-karat gold increased by Rs7,231 to reach Rs365,266.
In the international market, gold prices increased by $92 per ounce to settle at $4,424. The uptick reflects sustained global interest in precious metals amid economic uncertainty and shifting currency trends.
Silver followed a similar trajectory, with the price per tola of 24-karat silver rising by Rs267 to Rs8,023. The price of 10 grammes of 24k silver hiked by Rs229 to be sold for Rs6,878.
Supermarket Aldi has revealed a £1.65 billion sales haul over the Christmas month as price remained the “biggest priority” for shoppers.
The group reported a 3% rise in total sales over the four weeks to Christmas Eve as it notched up a record 57 million transactions.
The German-owned discounter – Britain’s fourth biggest grocery chain – said sales jumped by more than 5% in the final trading week leading up to Christmas, with around £500 million rung up through its tills.
The performance for the month-long run-up marks a slight slowdown on the previous Christmas, when sales lifted 3.4%.
Last week, close rival Lidl reported a 10% rise in Christmas sales as it made more than £1.1 billion in turnover over the four weeks leading up to December 24, but the two discounters do not provide same-store comparable sales for the period.
Aldi said price was “the biggest priority for shoppers in 2025, with customers seeking ways to celebrate on a budget”.
Despite this, customers traded up to its premium own-brand range, Specially Selected, which saw sales rise by over 12%.
Giles Hurley, chief executive of Aldi UK and Ireland, said: “This Christmas proved once again that a great quality Christmas can still be affordable.
“We’re grateful that more people than ever chose Aldi for their Christmas shop and trusted us to deliver both quality and value during what remains a challenging time for many.”
Aldi said Tuesday December 22 was its busiest trading day over the festive period.
There was strong demand for key festive British-sourced meat and vegetables, with customers buying 56 million potatoes, 37 million carrots and half a million turkeys.
The group also sold more than 5.5 million bottles of sparkling wine over the festive period.
The German discounters have kicked off the festive reporting season from the supermarket sector, with Tesco, Sainsbury’s and Marks & Spencer to follow later this week.
In September, Aldi announced a further £1.6 billion of investment to accelerate its UK supermarket expansion, with 80 openings planned over the next two years.
The chain, which currently has around 1,060 stores, has previously said it is targeting 1,500 locations across the UK.
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