The Food Bank Visit
There are more food banks in the UK than McDonald's and Burger King combined.
Number of food banks in the UK:
In order to receive assistance you need to get a 'referral'.
These are done via the library, a short walk from the food bank itself. I filled in the referral form and spent an hour on the PCs at the library searching for jobs and looking into if there's any help for my utilities, there isn't.
The referral is sent electronically and when I arrived at the food bank they hadn't received the referral, my heart dropped. I was scared they'd send me away and I'd go even longer without food. I've already exhausted every other avenue I can think of and I was getting desperate.
This is the reality of food insecurity. Going days without food, not knowing where your next meal comes from. Others go weeks without food and resort to dumpster diving for food, in 21st century Britain.
Porridge Oats
Dry Pasta and Lasagne Sheets
Tinned Beans x 2
Tinned Meat
Tinned Veg (Sweetcorn, Potatoes, Carrots)
Tinned Fruit
Instant Coffee & Decaf Instant Coffee
Soy Milk
Jar of Pasta Sauce
Jar of Lasagne Sauce
Sugar
Crackers
Instant Mash
There were also non food goods included such as;
Toothbrush
Toothepaste
Toilet Roll x 2
Soap
Hand Sanitiser
Facial Wipes
So, that's one problem down (food), one to go (utilities).
2004 - 1
2008 - 22
2011 - 100
2012 - 252
2019 - 2,030
2008 - 22
2011 - 100
2012 - 252
2019 - 2,030
Government ministers like to insist that food banks are only visited by those experiencing temporary cash flow problems. This is pure bollocks.
Welfare caps and freezes, bedroom tax, the notorious Work Capability Assessments, punitive sanctions and delays in payments can all lead to financial issues and consequently a trip to the food bank.
Contrary to popular belief, it's not just welfare recipients and the homeless who collect food aid. Those in part time employment, who are often single mothers working around childcare also make up a big portion of user's. Then you have the insecure / gig economy workers who are usually on zero hour contracts or self employed. The precarious nature of this type of work means there no guaranteed income for these people and they too find themselves at the doors of food banks.
More scandalously for the Conservative government is that low paid workers in full time employment also find themselves having to turn to food banks. This directly contradicts the governments "make work pay" mantra.
Personally speaking, after paying my rent I am left with £150 a month to pay bills, debts, buy food, cover utilities and travel.
Impossible.
Water alone is £48 per month, and that's just one bill.
If anyone reading this is struggling with food insecurity and lives in social housing, it is worth speaking to your housing officer as they can refer you to a local food bank. Alternatively if you are on UC (Universal Credit) your Work Coach at the Job Centre can also refer you. GPs and social workers can also raise referrals to a food bank.
Water alone is £48 per month, and that's just one bill.
The Food Bank Visit
Benefit freezes and rising cost of living is what drives many to food bank use, myself included.
I haven't eaten in four days and it was my housing officer from the council who informed me of an independent food bank organised by a local church and FareShare.
I literally pass by it on a daily basis, yet I never even knew it existed. It's not openly advertised, there's no signs or posters to indicate that it's there. I'm mentioning this because it brings to attention how many other people are out there struggling for food and not knowing there is help available.
I say with experience that accessing food aid doesn't come without an emotional price tag. Don't get me wrong, I am thankful for the assistance but it's still soul destroying that you're in that position in the first place. Users are allowed to access to service once every four weeks, so it's not possible to abuse food banks either.
In order to receive assistance you need to get a 'referral'.
These are done via the library, a short walk from the food bank itself. I filled in the referral form and spent an hour on the PCs at the library searching for jobs and looking into if there's any help for my utilities, there isn't.
The referral is sent electronically and when I arrived at the food bank they hadn't received the referral, my heart dropped. I was scared they'd send me away and I'd go even longer without food. I've already exhausted every other avenue I can think of and I was getting desperate.
This is the reality of food insecurity. Going days without food, not knowing where your next meal comes from. Others go weeks without food and resort to dumpster diving for food, in 21st century Britain.
The Parcel
Luckily, the volunteers were understanding and didn't send me away empty handed. They were amazing, all things considered.
There's no standard parcel, but generally speaking you will get three days worth of food and it will consist entirely of tinned and long life goods.
Nutrition is not the aim of the game, staving off starvation is. So while the food given has little nutritional value, it will keep you fed for a few days.
In my parcel I got the following;
Porridge Oats
Dry Pasta and Lasagne Sheets
Tinned Beans x 2
Tinned Meat
Tinned Veg (Sweetcorn, Potatoes, Carrots)
Tinned Fruit
Instant Coffee & Decaf Instant Coffee
Soy Milk
Jar of Pasta Sauce
Jar of Lasagne Sauce
Sugar
Crackers
Instant Mash
There were also non food goods included such as;
Toothbrush
Toothepaste
Toilet Roll x 2
Soap
Hand Sanitiser
Facial Wipes
✔ Food sorted
✖ Utilities not sorted
So, that's one problem down (food), one to go (utilities).
Westminster and political pundits talk about what poor people want, why not ask us instead? For some, we're worrying about where our next meal is coming from. Others are worrying about making this month's rent.
If you can donate to your local foodbank, please do.
1) Donating directly to the foodbank
2) Donating via food collection points at supermarkets
Find a foodbank here
Handy Guide of food to donate
You can follow me on Twitter @NorthernLefty
If you can donate to your local foodbank, please do.
Foodbank Donating Tips
1.6 MILLION food parcels were handed out in 2019. So please, if you are in a position to do so, donate food and non food items to your local foodbank. You can do this two ways;1) Donating directly to the foodbank
2) Donating via food collection points at supermarkets
Find a foodbank here
Handy Guide of food to donate
You can follow me on Twitter @NorthernLefty
My Sister works for a Social Housing Group. She tells me anonymously about the people she helps, in particular, those who need referrals to Food Banks. I agree, Government have chosen to do this to poorer people, single mothers, disabled people and minority groups are those without a voice. They are easy targets, often losing their voices, speaking into the darkness or whispering their fears to deaf ears. And your comment, "I say with experience that accessing food aid doesn't come without an emotional price tag." We should all be aware of the psychological damage poverty brings to those who have to bear this. Keep writing, your work is good and your opinion is valued, well done. Ruby :)
ReplyDeleteThank you. Sounds like your sister is on the front line so to speak and probably sees this sort of thing often. Indeed it is the vulnerable who are often maligned by the government and the psychological damage borne from poverty often remains, even when people become more financially secure.
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