Jenny, 41, Hampshire
In 2019, I had mental health issues and couldn’t work. My flat was repossessed and I ended up in emergency temporary accommodation and claiming universal credit for the first time. I was living on £291 a month. I never thought I would walk through the doors of a food bank, because there is a stigma involved. It took a lot for me to do it – I had no choice because I had no food. But I was greeted by a lovely woman. She could see I was nervous, so she sat me down with a cup of coffee and a slice of cake while we talked about what I needed. That experience changed everything for me because I realised it was OK to ask for help.
I’d love the government to reverse the decision on the universal credit cut. They increased it when people who had previously been working on higher salaries realised that universal credit wasn’t enough money. To take it away in the beginning of winter is, I think, a disgusting decision to make.
Martin, 55, Newcastle
I can’t work because of my mental health issues and disabilities – I am visually impaired and because I have type 2 diabetes, I need to eat regularly.
I’m on what they call legacy benefits. In the pandemic, people on universal credit received £80 a month extra, but we didn’t get anything at all. Food is going up in price, but your benefits do not go up to match it. I only receive £370 a fortnight. So that’s why you need the food banks – because you cannot buy a healthy diet.
I really am grateful, but you shouldn’t have to rely on food banks in the 21st century. At the end of the day, the Trussell Trust is a charity and they’re doing the government’s job.
Amie, 41, Lincolnshire
My husband left us in 2017, and at the same time I lost my job as a teacher. The jobcentre gave me food bank vouchers to tide us over and I used them for three or four months. The food bank staff were super supportive, making me cups of tea and gathering all the things we could possibly need. I felt instantly valued. The kids were so happy, they were like: “Oh what have we got this week?”
I found employment through the jobcentre so I felt a lot more steady after that. I tried to get involved in what different places are doing in terms of eradicating the need for food banks, so I set up a food co-op to share food between people. We’re saving food from landfill and we’re also feeding our families.
Yuyan, 34, Wandsworth
I had experienced domestic violence in Spain. I was fired just before the first lockdown and was left with a child to take care of and a flat to pay for, so in September 2020 I came to London. Due to Covid they were not issuing national insurance numbers. Because I had run out of money to rent a room and it was difficult to find a job, I was on the verge of being homeless.
The food bank made such a difference – it was the only support I had all year. I received food parcels for four months. Thanks to the food bank I also had all the information about doing my paperwork, where to make appointments. I’ve always felt like they were a phone call away for any situation.
If there were more centres to give that valuable information to people, and have people as dedicated as they are in Wandsworth food bank, a lot of people would get out of this situation like I did.
Sally, 53, Welwyn Garden City
I haven’t worked in a paid job for about nine years. I suffer from depression and anxiety, which is why I’m on ESA (employment and support allowance). I’m also a carer for my adult disabled daughter. I had to go to the food bank because I just did not have enough to live on. I used it about three times. I tried to hold out from going because of embarrassment. But the food banks in this area are run by very nice, caring people – you’re made to feel very welcome.
The Department for Work and Pensions called me up out of the blue and told me I hadn’t been paid enough all that time and I did get a substantial amount as a back payment. It’s not uncommon – I’ve heard of it happening a lot. It would be ideal if they calculated things correctly in the first place.
Jade, 34, Wandsworth
I’ve been unemployed for the past couple of years – before that I’d been employed all my life. After my dad’s death I fell off the rails a bit due to depression and anxiety.
I’m on universal credit and I’ve been using the food bank for the past three months. If I didn’t have it I’m not sure what I’d do for food right now. Because of my mental health condition, asking for help is difficult, so the food bank provides me with a safe space to be able to talk and to find help, especially with Citizens Advice, which helped me get my studio flat.
I spend two hours there every week. It doesn’t take two hours to pick up my food parcel, but there are so many kind, caring people that dedicate their time to speak to people who don’t often have conversation or can feel lost and lonely.
Steve, 43, Fulham
I had a back injury at work, and had to move to a desk job. I coped with the pain with alcohol and ended up with alcohol dependency and had to go into rehab. When I came out I was on the basic level of ESA, just above the benefit cap, and my accommodation was a studio flat, so my housing benefit wasn’t even covering the rent.
The food bank was a lifeline. There’s no way that I would have survived without it. And just having that support to get me back on my feet was really important.
The benefits system needs to be reformed so that it supports the people who really need it. When we’re told that everybody is a scrounger, it’s really disheartening. Having reforms so that people get the benefits they need will change things so much.
Some names have been changed.
