Stuart’s Story

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 CheshireFoodbank 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