ABERDEEN has a reputation as a universally wealthy city – given that it is oil capital of Europe, it may be somewhat surprising to find that there are hundreds of families who rely on food banks every week.

Food banks in the city have been appealing for donations after a recent increase in demand has them left with close to nothing on the shelves.

As further job losses are predicted throughout the oil industry and house and rental prices continue to rise dramatically, the divide between the rich and poor in the city is as wide as it has ever been.

In the northern half of the city, nearly one in four children are born into poverty.

Average house prices have risen by 88 per cent since 2005, in comparison to Stirling where they have risen by only 3.3 per cent. Although earnings in the city are amongst the highest in the UK, due to the oil industry, those working outside oil and gas are earning close to the national average, making everyday life more difficult as prices continue to rise.

In the summer of 2014, Ian Armstrong set up a charitable organisation, collecting unwanted and cheap furniture and goods and supplying families that are most in need.

Armstrong was a community worker for 25 and saw first-hand what Aberdeen’s “hidden poverty” was really like. As well as supplying furniture Armstrong works with community groups and food banks throughout the city.

“The poverty is hidden, big time. I go into local pubs and community centres with bags of food. We are seeing a big rise in people needing to use food banks,” he said.

“People see Aberdeen as the oil rich capital but they are not seeing what is behind the scenes. Even people who are working in fairly run of the mill jobs find it difficult to make ends meet. People who are working for a minimum wage can’t afford to pay £800 a month to rent a flat. They are putting themselves into debt just to get through the month.”

After the story of a food bank in need hit the headlines in local papers, the centre in Tillydrone, North Aberdeen, was flooded with donations.

“Yesterday we received five car loads from different people and companies had office whip rounds and went to Asda to bring in two more car loads. We had a transit van full to the brim with food and of course individuals who came in with bags of shopping,” said Susan Cheyne a manager at the Instant Neighbour charity.

Local MSPs joined in urging constituents to donate food and the centre said they now had enough to tide them over for a few weeks. But as Cheyne said: “The challenge is that poverty does exist in Aberdeen 365 days a year.”

Armstrong said this was typical, adding that there is no consistency to donations.

“You see food banks getting reported on in the local newspapers sometimes it will be the headline for a night or two, but then it is forgotten about for another two months or so,” he said. “There is no consistency in regards to donations of food. You can only give people what you’ve got, and we’re not getting the donations.”

“Then that happens is the problem gets bigger. People have to shoplift as they have no other option. If I didn’t have the money to feed my kids I’d do the same,” Armstrong added.

A spokesman for Child Poverty Action Scotland said that families all over Scotland are experiencing this poverty, even in the wealthiest parts.

He said: “It is ridiculous in towns and cities such as Aberdeen, we are seeing an explosion of food banks. The fact people are ending up with nowhere to go but food banks is a scandal in the 21st century.”

Job markets in Aberdeen have been dominated by the oil and gas industry in recent decades. Fluctuating oil prices and significant job losses may hit the city hard if alternative markets are not tapped into.

Armstrong said the effect of the slump is already being felt. “Imagine it in six months time,” he said, “it’s just going to get worse.”

“When oil came to Aberdeen in the first instance the government should have had something in place to protect the city. We have missed the boat on an oil fund.”