Monday 31 March 2014

Pat's Story

"I have been told that I owe £17,000 in overpaid disability. I haven't had any money for 10 days and am waiting for an appeal in another 10 days. To tell the truth I get quite down just thinking about it. I have been borrowing odd bits of money from my neighbours."

Thank you Pat for sharing why you visited us and how you feel.

Friday 28 March 2014

Harriet's Story

"For several months I have been forced into debt by the bedroom tax being demanded to pay £13 a month that I don't have. The council housed me and my daughter (aged 4) in this 3 bedroom flat as I was homeless and fled domestic violence. I have asked them to downsize me and they refuse which is causing my debt to increase by £60 a month. This is causing me to be depressed and left feeling trapped. They are now taking me to court to remove me from my home. I don't have family around to fall back on. If I lose my home we will have nothing. I am at college trying to better my life and make a better future for my daughter. The better I do the more something happens to knock me back down. If they moved me and helped I wouldn't be forced into debt and I could deal with my personal issues then i.e. no family and the loss of a child and maybe I would feel more settled. I feel like everything is slipping through my fingers and my life is just bad and unhappy."

We cannot thank Harriet enough for sharing her experiences with us.

Thursday 27 March 2014

Mathew's Story

"I attended my jobsearch program during the week (as usual). As my dates are sometimes changed (i.e. to different days of the week) on this 'one' occasion I actually attended on the Wednesday, a day earlier than I was scheduled to!! - No one pointed this out to me, and let me continue as I would normally. Because I did not attend on the 'Thursday' (the day after) I was sanctioned and denied my benefits from the 4th Feb. I have no second income as I now live alone since the death of my partner. I am without gas and almost without electricity as I am on meters. I am currently awaiting a decision on an application for hardship payments."

Thank you so much to Mathew for sharing his story with us. We really appreciate it.


Monday 24 March 2014

Stephen's Story

"I got out of prison 18 months ago and have been unable to find work. My job seekers allowance should be £69 a week. I am getting deductions taken out of this for council tax arrears, water rates and budgeting loans leaving me about £55 a week. Then I'm on prepayment meters for gas and electric at £2 charge each, and I'm in debt on the gas for £75, so when I put £5 on the gas, £3 is taken straight away for debt. I normally find it a struggle to cope, but everything seemed to go wrong at once this week."

Thanks to Stephen for sharing his story with us.

Friday 21 March 2014

Darren's Story

"I have had my benefit stopped because apparently I did not go to a work programme even though I did go. They just take the Mick out of people these days".

Thanks to Darren for sharing his experience with us while he was visiting one of our Foodbank centres to collect emergency food.


Joanne's Story

"Foodbank is very good to go to for help when you need it. They also have someone there to help with your debts as well, they help people a lot and need all the help they can get with donations".

Thanks to Joanne for her support for what we do. Joanne wrote this while collecting emergency food from one of our centres.

Thursday 20 March 2014

Claire's Story

"I am currently working full time but my partner has a long term illness which means he is unable to work. As we don't claim benefits my wages only cover bills and so we struggled to put food on the table. This is the first time I have visited the Foodbank but I feel welcomed and helped here."

Thank you so much to Claire for sharing her experiences when she visited us at one of our Foodbank centres.

Tuesday 18 March 2014

Jamie's Story

"My crisis was caused by a misunderstanding by myself on how the lady at the dole wrote down my appointment. She wrote a numerical date and wrote Thursday next to it so I thought the date was on a Thursday. So I went for my appointment and once there I realised I was a day late. I saw a lady and showed her the paperwork and she was sincere and said she could see how I'd misunderstood. She put the information on a computer and explained it had to go to a decision maker but that I'd be ok. I found out I'd been sanctioned when I went to collect money and there was none in my account and I was told on the phone when I queried where my money was. I have appealed and this was a month ago and I'm still waiting to hear".

Thanks to Jamie for sharing what happened with us.

Monday 17 March 2014

Jane's Story

"Due to problems with my depression, I wasn't able to attend the work related group for ESA. My money then stopped to be what they were and is now £28.00 (more or less). It is of course causing me problems paying bills, even though I am receiving DLA. I went to [Name of Voucher Holding Organisation] to ask for help to reinstate the money and they offered me the voucher." 

Thank you so much for sharing your story with us Jane.

Friday 14 March 2014

Have you read our post for End Hunger Fast?

We've just posted on the End Hunger Fast Blog. You can take a look by clicking here.

Thursday 13 March 2014

Peter's Story

"I was sent a letter from the DHSS* regarding college courses with my name spelt wrong. I ignored the letter because I assumed it wasn't for me and as a result I have been sanctioned for 4 weeks."

Our sincere thanks to Peter for sharing his story with us.

*stands for Department of Health and Social Security. This Department ceased to exist in 1988. Many of it's functions are now performed by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). Referring to the DWP as the DHSS is still common practice.

Wednesday 12 March 2014

Karen's Story

“I have come to the Foodbank today as I am struggling to keep my family’s head above water, even though I work full time. My husband lost his job and I have two kids, so my wage has gone on bills. The job centre informed us they couldn't help as I worked more than 24 hours per week, without even asking what my salary was, also my son who is in part time college is not entitled to anything so I am supporting the four of us.”

A massive thank you to Karen for sharing this with us.

Tuesday 11 March 2014

John's Story

"I'm only receiving benefits at present and find myself in debt with heating bills for my house, and struggling to buy food. I'm seeking full-time employment and possible chance of a factory job in the local area waiting for contact from employers". 

Thanks to John for sharing his situation with us.

Monday 10 March 2014

Chloe's Story

"I finished my job on the 27th December due to being bullied which was not helping my mental health but I managed to find another on the 17th of January. I missed the cut-off date so I won't get paid until the end of February. Within this time me and my friend who I live with have been living on her ESA and £160 of that has been going on bills. She and I are on a debt relief order so we felt it was more important to make sure it's done."

Thanks to Chloe for sharing her story with us.


Thursday 6 March 2014

West Cheshire Foodbank joins End Hunger Fast calling for Government Action



West Cheshire Foodbank has been supporting End Hunger Fast, a national campaign also backed by over 20 charities including Oxfam, Child Poverty Action Group. We were at Westminster for Ash Wednesday (March 5th 2014), where the Government faced a huge and growing call to take action on welfare, wages and food markets in the 2014 budget from End Hunger Fast.

To mark the start of the 40 day fasting relay, campaigners and church leaders assembled near the Houses of Parliament for a photocall, inviting the public to fast in solidarity with the thousands of Britons going hungry and calling on the Government to take action.

The earlier letter from faith leaders, including 27 Bishops, calling on the Government to act on the national crisis in UK hunger was backed up by 20 leading secular charities, including Just Fair, Oxfam and Child Poverty Action Group, who have thrown their weight behind End Hunger Fast for its official launch on Ash Wednesday in a letter to national newspapers announcing “Hunger has returned to Britain”.

The backing came as fresh statistics gathered from over 400 Trussell Trust food banks around the country vindicated the call for action. The Trussell Trust say that their food banks gave out three days’ emergency food over 600,000 times between April and December 2013, more than in the entire previous financial year (in 2012-13 Trussell Trust food banks gave out three days’ food almost 350,000 times). In addition to these figures, Church Action on Poverty and Oxfam have estimated that a total of over 500,000 people were helped by independent and Trussell Trust food banks in 2012-13. West Cheshire Foodbank has now given out emergency food to over 5000 people since November 2012; a third of these were children.

Meanwhile End Hunger Fast revealed the first wave of faith leaders, MPs, celebrities and poverty campaigners taking part in the “fasting relay” to highlight the need for the Government to act on growing hunger.

The fasting relay was launched today [Wednesday 5th] with a photocall outside parliament. Those taking part in the first week of fasting include:

Comedian Eddie Izzard
Helen Drewery, General Secretary of the Quakers
Rt Rev Michael Perham, the Bishop of Gloucester
Rt Rev Nick Holtam, the Bishop of Salisbury
Rt Rev Stephen Platten, the Bishop of Wakefield
Sarah Teather MP

Fresh research vindicates campaign

The growing body of evidence supporting the campaign was added to today with key new sources of research. New Trussell Trust figures on food banks were joined by an End Hunger Fast poll, surveying 1,000 Britons, which found that over 50% have had to tighten their belts, cutting down on food to pay other bills in the last year. One in five admit to having gone hungry to save money and 85% agreed with the campaign’s call that “no one should go hungry in Britain”.

In a further development Liz Dowler one of the Warwickshire University academics who wrote the Governments own DEFRA study into food banks has come out in support of the End Hunger Fast campaign and backing the Living Wage as a solution, noting “food banks are not a long term solution, the quantities are too small and too piecemeal to meet systematic need.”

Keith Hebden, End Hunger Fast campaign spokesperson said:

“Today is an exciting day, with so many different faith communities and sections of wider society uniting in the call to end UK hunger. We must stop and recognise the growing hunger in our midst.

“I hope others will join and fast for a day, a week or as long as they feel able, in solidarity with the half a million hungry Britons. This is a moral crisis, one we should lament as it calls us to act”

Eddie Izzard, public figure and comedian said:

“It’s shocking to see just how quickly and widely foodbanks are springing up across UK. It’s unacceptable that in the 7th richest country on earth hundreds of thousands of people would go hungry but for these local charities.

“When one in four families is cutting portion sizes and parents are skipping meals to feed their kids it’s time to act. By fasting today I hope to play my part in drawing attention to this massive and growing issue.”

David McAuley, Trussell Trust Chief Executive:

“Seeing the impact that going hungry has on a mum who is at crisis point, and the additional stress and anxiety that it causes, compels us to act. Trussell Trust food banks are providing emergency food and support to hundreds of thousands of people in crisis, but more needs to be done to find ways to resolve the underlying causes of UK hunger. Myself and many of my colleagues will join End Hunger Fast’s stand in solidarity with people in our communities who won’t have a choice about whether they eat tonight. We hope it will place a spotlight on this issue so that practical solutions can be found to help stop UK hunger.”

Helen Drewery General Secretary of Quaker Peace and Social Witness said:

“Quakers are angry that such hunger and inequality exists in Britain. So I’ll be taking part in the fasting chain because I want to stand in solidarity with people who have no choice but to go hungry and because I think that the Government needs to take the issue of hunger more seriously.”

The Bishop of Warrington and Acting Bishop of Liverpool, the Rt Revd Richard Blackburn said:

“The scandal of food poverty is something churches across our diocese tackle daily. End Hunger Fast is a wake up call to society, politicians and leaders that we can no longer get away with tackling the symptoms of food poverty. Now is the time to properly protect the vulnerable from being failed by a society that should have resources to make sure no one goes hungry.”

Alec Spencer, Development Officer at West Cheshire Foodbank said:

“In West Cheshire, we’ve seen rising numbers of people forced to rely on our Foodbank. Since we opened in November 2012, we’ve provided 3 days of emergency food to over 5000 people, many of whom were children. In January alone, we provided food to over 500 people. I’d encourage everyone to get involved with End Hunger Fast and to show their support for local people in crisis. You can visit endhungerfast.co.uk to sign up and find out more”.

End Hunger Fast is calling for the Government to act immediately on welfare, wages and food markets and meet their duty of care to poor and vulnerable citizens.

- Welfare: half of all those going to food banks have been referred because of benefit delays and changes, including punitive sanctions. Regardless of changes to welfare policy and attempts to make savings, the welfare system must be there to stop people going hungry and must fulfil this mission.

- Living Wage: The majority of households in poverty and at risk from hunger are in work and 60% of them report cutting back on food to save money. Work should pay, the minimum wage and support for the Living Wage must be used to make sure of it.

- Food prices have gone up 30.5% in the last 5 years, way ahead of general inflation and way ahead of wages. At the same time the poorest among us have to pay 19% more for food in a poverty premium and more and more people are forced to buy cheap and unhealthy processed foods. Government should undertake a full review of British food markets to look at long term interventions to make them healthy, sustainable and affordable.

Martin's Story

"After a split with a long-term partner some months ago I found myself having to deal with a lot of personal issues and sought help via counselling. My life was rearranged and I had to find somewhere else to live whilst dealing with the emotional baggage from such an event as well as a number of issues from my childhood experiencee. When my counselling sessions ended my personal situation deteriorated rapidly culminating in my failure to deal with regular day to day chores. This led to my benefits being stopped and I found myself in need of basic sustenance which West Cheshire Foodbank have happily helped me out with. One very grateful peep." 

Thanks to Martin for sharing his story with us whilst we were packing his emergency food at one of our centres.

Wednesday 5 March 2014

Neil's Story

"Briefly, ten years ago I sacrificed a good job to go on Carer's Allowance and lived at home with my mother in order to keep her out of a care home. Sadly, she passed away 2 years ago. I fortunately gained tenancy of her Council house but am now unable to find a good job due to my disabilities (monocular vision, arthritis, depression) and have been subsequently burdened by the bedroom tax. Having saved the taxpayer hundreds of thousands of pounds in care bills I feel it is an injustice to be punished with the bedroom tax which is basically a tax on poverty. Taxes should be progressive and not penalise the most vulnerable people in society".

Our thanks to Neil for sharing his story with us when he visited one of our Foodbank Centres.

Tuesday 4 March 2014

Happy Pancake Day!

It's Shrove Tuesday. Tomorrow is the first day of Lent, a liturgical calendar period that echoes the time Jesus spent fasting in the wilderness before he began his ministry of liberation for the poor and dispossessed (Mathew 4, 1-2; Mark 1, 12-13; Luke 4, 1-2).

In these stories, fasting was not a stunt but rather a sign. Fasting can point the way to a greater compassion and help us demand that something be done to end hunger. Fast.

We'd love to encourage you to sign up to a National Day of Fasting on the 4th April by registering at endhungerfast.co.uk. Whether you are spiritual, religious, or just that wonderful thing called "human", you can help.


Mary's Story

"I signed off Job Seekers Allowance on December 4th and went onto working tax credits self-employed but I've had no income for at least one year. They still won't pay me. They now want lists of all customers and expect the impossible at least one job a day paid at National Minimum Wage but this is a new business with no funding so back to JSA I guess."

Thanks to Mary for sharing her story with us whilst at our Foodbank.