Stuart visited one of our
Foodbank sessions for the first time last week. He told me simply that the
reason he was there was “out of sheer
desperation. There’s no alternative. When you can’t afford food you think where
do I go, what do I do now? I didn’t know which way to turn but then someone
told me to go to Citizens Advice. I didn’t know about Foodbanks”. Gesturing
to the food one of our volunteers had packed for him he commented: “this food will really help me out. It’ll
last a while as well. I’m so used to not eating that I can make it stretch out
for ages.”
I asked Stuart why he couldn’t
afford food. “I’ve haven’t got any wages
coming in. I’m on ESA*. I’ve been claiming for three years because of sickness.
I had a nervous breakdown and the doctor said I couldn’t work in that condition.
The amount I get on benefits just isn’t enough to live on. Benefits need to be
at a level where you can buy things, proper things.”
Stuart’s income is £64 per week (£128
per fortnight). “I’ve got about £70 quid
to live on until a week on Tuesday. I used to go the club on a Tuesday. I don’t
do that anymore; I can’t afford it, I just drink squash now. It doesn’t stretch
far enough. You’ve got toiletries, clothes; bills are going up all the time. I
went behind on the rent. You’re never out of it. I don’t spend it on
booze and fags but I just can’t make it stretch.”
“When I’m really hungry, I sometimes go round to my mum’s for a cup of
tea and a piece of toast but I don’t like doing it. I feel too proud to ask her
for more. I feel safe when I’m there and I know she understands my situation but
when she offers me food, I can’t take it. I don’t think it’s fair, she offered
me her last five pound note recently. I said no: it would be like robbing a
pensioner. All this greedy government cares about is taking your money. The
first thing you gave me was food. You actually helped me. You wouldn’t get
anything like that from them [referring to the Jobcentre]. They think you’re scum when
you’re not working, but the majority of us are people with genuine problems.
I’ve not been sanctioned yet, but I’m
waiting, it’s bound to happen because they’re being too heavy handed with
people. There’s no fix for this.”
Stuart volunteers at a local
charity shop for one day a week and is looking for full time work but says ‘there’s nothing out there’. He hasn’t
been on holiday for more than five years and misses being able to go out for
the day: “I used to like doing things
like going to the zoo”.
Stuart asked me to share his story. He hoped that by sharing it,
someone else in a similar position might find out that support was available
and be able to access it. We hope so too. Please do share this story and help
ensure that everyone knows that West Cheshire
Foodbank is here and that we’ll do what we can to support you if you’re in a crisis.
*ESA stands for Employment and Support Allowance
