Going Hungry in the UK by Kieran Dodds (32 images)
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![Alice Kimmins, 62.<br />
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'I love baking. If I had my money, I would buy flour and make fruit loafs and scones. I love my mince and tatties (potatoes), that would be the best meal. If it wasn't for that food bank I don't know what I would have done….. Growing up I was in care for 2 year in Dunoon, mother and father split up. During the summer I worked in a cafe during the holidays but I had to go with my granny, my dads mum. I got a job in Millers of Castlemilk, as a machinist. I used to adjust curtains. Then I worked in Gartnavel [hospital] for three years as a domestic [cleaner]…..I loved it. Then I moved in with my grandad and looked after him for 12-13 year. He was [actually] a friend of the family but see from when I was a wee girl I called him grandad. I was more or less his personal carer. I took all the rubbish jobs to pay for it. I worked in an army academy as a cleaner. Then I ended up with chronic back pain. That’s how I'm on dihydrocodeine today. I hate taking tablets, I see what happens to people taking tablets. I’m not a tablet person but if you have to take them what can you do…..I have chronic back pain, carpal tunnel syndrome and spondylitis which is arthritis really. I would love to go out and work and do my domestic. I'm on painkillers and antidepressants, been on them for 12 year. I stopped working when I stayed in Drumchapel, about 25 year ago…..When I moved in here, they told me I get paid a day later. I went to get payment and there was nothing in! I phoned them and they said my account was closed down. They sent a letter to go for a medical assessment but they must have sent it to 75 [old address]. I had already changed my details. All I did was cry. I said 'I need help, I need help'. I felt like they were just blocking me out, they weren’t caring……I had no power and I said to them, 'I don’t know how I am going to live?'. Not so much for the heating but for the cooking. I didn't know about the Foodbanks until someone](https://archive.felixfeatures.com/img-get/I0000SZEjnPp4TrM/t/200/I0000SZEjnPp4TrM.jpg)
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![Robert Wagstaff, 48.<br />
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'I used the foodbank last week, since September 23 last year. I was sanctioned at the time. I never heard about it until last year…. I’ve been sanctioned a couple of times [had unemployment penalised for misdemeanours]. I was due to be paid on wednesday but wasn't paid so went to Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB). I’ve got a bad back and suffer from depression. Its an old motorbike injury from when I was a teenager, my back is away. Eight or nine years ago I did landscape gardening part time 16-30 hours a week. I ended up losing my house through rent arrears….I ended up homeless, on the streets…. I was sleeping rough plenty of times for 3 years. What was it like?… Like hell. I was down and out, really bad. I wouldn't wish that upon my worst enemy. That was the hardest time in my life…. Foodbank is a blessing for people like myself. I can't take medication without food. I have seen people up there with little children. People look at food bankers like they’re old junkies but its normal, people like myself who have got no choice. You can't afford to live these days….I remember 10-15 years ago I could get £20 of shopping to last me a fortnight, but now it would be lucky if it lasted 3 days. The cost of living has gone up but what the government gives you is going nowhere. Doesn't cover the electricity and gas bills…. There are a few I know around here who use the foodbank. Every time I go in I see someone different not necessarily from this area but further afield…. If you miss one appointment they can sanction your for 6 weeks. I’ve known people to get sanctioned for months…. I don’t do a lot. Sit and watch telly. Theres not much I can do….I’ve been depressed for years, since my mum passed away because we were really close, 25 years ago. I’m from Mansfield, Nottingham and travelled around England working then to Paisley….. I would like the govt to actually be a bit more considerate for people like us. Jobs are](https://archive.felixfeatures.com/img-get/I0000em5BYvfTHHg/t/200/I0000em5BYvfTHHg.jpg)
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![Kevin (52) and Angela Turner (51).<br />
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We were putting all our money on the electricity and gas…. If there was food in the house I made sure the other three was eating and starve myself, which according to my consultant [doctor] was not a good move. I was having to put more money on that, than what's in my sons belly…. For you to take your tablets you’ve got to eat- If you don’t eat you’ll have a ruptured hernia or something even worse you could bleed…. I spoke to the school and they said go to the foodbank. And for two months I wouldn't go. I won't go cap in hand, I'm already sponging off society, in my eyes. And she said Not with what you’'ve got - you banged your head, you've got to take your handouts'…. We only went the once [to the foodbank], about a month ago. It put pressure on us, the wife and I were arguing. My eldest went to army careers office and said I'm 13 and I want to join the army. -- Why do you want to go in the army? -- He said Well I want to give back to this country what its given me. …. At one stage I told my eldest son, he was watching a bit of telly with me and I said You know what? When you've gone to bed you'll find me dead in this chair'. He said Why?. I said See all those tablets up there? I am taking the flaming lot. Of course he wouldn't go to bed till dad went to bed. You’re going to sleep on it and tomorrow morning, everything will be fine.… Just after using the food bank I felt suicidal, I thought for a guy to be embarrassed like that…. I felt more lower after using it than before, it was like - I have let the family down…. I know what it's like to starve. I know what it's like to starve for three days. Every week. Sometimes it was five days. Even now, I have just a sandwich…. I've had epilepsy since 1985 when I had a push bike accident and wasn't wearing a helmet. It got really bad so I had to go unemployed. I used to be a chef back in the 1990s at Butlins [holiday resort]. I like cooking, I get a passio](https://archive.felixfeatures.com/img-get/I0000yU.hy0mNpaY/t/200/I0000yU.hy0mNpaY.jpg)
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![Lunchtime in the house of Kevin (52) and Angela Turner (51).<br />
<br />
We were putting all our money on the electricity and gas…. If there was food in the house I made sure the other three was eating and starve myself, which according to my consultant [doctor] was not a good move. I was having to put more money on that, than what's in my sons belly…. For you to take your tablets you’ve got to eat- If you don’t eat you’ll have a ruptured hernia or something even worse you could bleed…. I spoke to the school and they said go to the foodbank. And for two months I wouldn't go. I won't go cap in hand, I'm already sponging off society, in my eyes. And she said Not with what you’'ve got - you banged your head, you've got to take your handouts'…. We only went the once [to the foodbank], about a month ago. It put pressure on us, the wife and I were arguing. My eldest went to army careers office and said I'm 13 and I want to join the army. -- Why do you want to go in the army? -- He said Well I want to give back to this country what its given me. …. At one stage I told my eldest son, he was watching a bit of telly with me and I said You know what? When you've gone to bed you'll find me dead in this chair'. He said Why?. I said See all those tablets up there? I am taking the flaming lot. Of course he wouldn't go to bed till dad went to bed. You’re going to sleep on it and tomorrow morning, everything will be fine.… Just after using the food bank I felt suicidal, I thought for a guy to be embarrassed like that…. I felt more lower after using it than before, it was like - I have let the family down…. I know what it's like to starve. I know what it's like to starve for three days. Every week. Sometimes it was five days. Even now, I have just a sandwich…. I've had epilepsy since 1985 when I had a push bike accident and wasn't wearing a helmet. It got really bad so I had to go unemployed. I used to be a chef back in the 1990s at Butlins [holiday resort]. I li](https://archive.felixfeatures.com/img-get/I0000W6HiAIHG.DM/t/200/I0000W6HiAIHG.DM.jpg)
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![The gas meter at the house of Kevin (52) and Angela Turner (51).<br />
<br />
We were putting all our money on the electricity and gas…. If there was food in the house I made sure the other three was eating and starve myself, which according to my consultant [doctor] was not a good move. I was having to put more money on that, than what's in my sons belly…. For you to take your tablets you’ve got to eat- If you don’t eat you’ll have a ruptured hernia or something even worse you could bleed…. I spoke to the school and they said go to the foodbank. And for two months I wouldn't go. I won't go cap in hand, I'm already sponging off society, in my eyes. And she said Not with what you’'ve got - you banged your head, you've got to take your handouts'…. We only went the once [to the foodbank], about a month ago. It put pressure on us, the wife and I were arguing. My eldest went to army careers office and said I'm 13 and I want to join the army. -- Why do you want to go in the army? -- He said Well I want to give back to this country what its given me. …. At one stage I told my eldest son, he was watching a bit of telly with me and I said You know what? When you've gone to bed you'll find me dead in this chair'. He said Why?. I said See all those tablets up there? I am taking the flaming lot. Of course he wouldn't go to bed till dad went to bed. You’re going to sleep on it and tomorrow morning, everything will be fine.… Just after using the food bank I felt suicidal, I thought for a guy to be embarrassed like that…. I felt more lower after using it than before, it was like - I have let the family down…. I know what it's like to starve. I know what it's like to starve for three days. Every week. Sometimes it was five days. Even now, I have just a sandwich…. I've had epilepsy since 1985 when I had a push bike accident and wasn't wearing a helmet. It got really bad so I had to go unemployed. I used to be a chef back in the 1990s at Butlins [holiday resort].](https://archive.felixfeatures.com/img-get/I0000oF83yLrjt6Q/t/200/I0000oF83yLrjt6Q.jpg)
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![George Osburne, Chancellor of the Exchequer, announces the pre-election Budget 2015, seen on the television of Kevin (52) and Angela Turner (51).<br />
<br />
We were putting all our money on the electricity and gas…. If there was food in the house I made sure the other three was eating and starve myself, which according to my consultant [doctor] was not a good move. I was having to put more money on that, than what's in my sons belly…. For you to take your tablets you’ve got to eat- If you don’t eat you’ll have a ruptured hernia or something even worse you could bleed…. I spoke to the school and they said go to the foodbank. And for two months I wouldn't go. I won't go cap in hand, I'm already sponging off society, in my eyes. And she said Not with what you’'ve got - you banged your head, you've got to take your handouts'…. We only went the once [to the foodbank], about a month ago. It put pressure on us, the wife and I were arguing. My eldest went to army careers office and said I'm 13 and I want to join the army. -- Why do you want to go in the army? -- He said Well I want to give back to this country what its given me. …. At one stage I told my eldest son, he was watching a bit of telly with me and I said You know what? When you've gone to bed you'll find me dead in this chair'. He said Why?. I said See all those tablets up there? I am taking the flaming lot. Of course he wouldn't go to bed till dad went to bed. You’re going to sleep on it and tomorrow morning, everything will be fine.… Just after using the food bank I felt suicidal, I thought for a guy to be embarrassed like that…. I felt more lower after using it than before, it was like - I have let the family down…. I know what it's like to starve. I know what it's like to starve for three days. Every week. Sometimes it was five days. Even now, I have just a sandwich…. I've had epilepsy since 1985 when I had a push bike accident and wasn't wearing a helmet. It got really bad so I had to g](https://archive.felixfeatures.com/img-get/I0000yk1P2rMtsX0/t/200/I0000yk1P2rMtsX0.jpg)
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![Antonia Francisco, 32, is a sales advisor living with her daughter Samara, 11 and 3-month old son Samuel in south west London.<br />
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'I work part-time in Halfords as a sales advisor. My husband Sergio started working in TK Maxx this month. Before it was just me [supporting us financially] but I am on maternity. My husband changed his job to support me when I was in hospital for pre-eclampsia. He did a night shift 1hr 20 mins away across London. He wanted to transfer to look after me. The only choice Tesco gave him was you have to leave the job or leave your wife by herself….. <br />
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Sergio is asthmatic, he can't stay in this place, so lives with a friend in East London, one day here one day there, because of the damp. I was spending £200 on painting to clean the house. There was damp everywhere, they replaced the window at Christmas. I was getting unwell from the damp. It's really strong, the smell and I had to go every week with [my son] Samuel to the GP because he was really cold and had the flu. He couldn't eat….. <br />
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I felt stressed and was on medication [for depression] which I finished three weeks ago. I started in January this year. I was nervous because I didn't know how it was but then people from church were talking to me very nicely to make me feel calm. I feel better now….. <br />
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From the beginning I felt very embarrassed about using the food bank but I met the ladies who were very nice. I have been since November till now, every Monday, to get nappies and food. I was in front of the church and thought shall I go or not?.<br />
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Sometimes I had to go without eating for a weekend. I had to be strong because of my daughter Samara, I can't show her how I was feeling…. <br />
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She asks when she is going to have a room so she can invite her friends…. <br />
Samara is going to secondary school in September and this is a two bedroom. She doesn't have space… We are still waiting for an answer from social housing [about the new flat], it's been a month, we are still waiting.'](https://archive.felixfeatures.com/img-get/I0000CGxXYqhKsls/t/200/I0000CGxXYqhKsls.jpg)
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![David Hesselton, 44.<br />
'To sum it up I felt like shit [when I first went to a foodbank] because I was a sponge. I felt like that all the time but what else are you supposed to do? I’ve used the food bank about 21 times. I couldn't give anything back so I gave my time and volunteered…. I know I am wanted and I know I can help; because I’m a happy, cheerful lad, it makes them cheerful and happy. I always have a good laugh with them. Back in 2013, I had never heard of them [foodbanks] but was sanctioned for 9 months [a penalty imposed on unemployment benefit for misdemeanours]. The 9 month sanction was when I walked out of work because I have been in employment less than six months, doing door work, security…..I would say over 50% of ours are sanctions. Some of it can be drug and alcohol abuse, which we see…. They will walk from anywhere, I’d say if anyone’s walking it will average 8-10 miles at least. I had a family in of eight and the lad came on his own and had walked from Ferry Hill which is about 6-8 miles, so fourteen mile round trip! ….. We have to use our own judgement if they are genuine or not. The primary aim of the food bank is if the need is great we will give it- even if they don't have a voucher. If the need is not great and they have no voucher, we can use our own judgement and not give it. <br />
Most of Brandon is council [housing], its really low employment, they are all practically unemployed. They don't care here much for work. Put a bomb on brandon and it wouldn't make much difference, I'm being serious.<br />
At the foodbank, there’s a computer there to do job search, they can learn english and maths if they want to, there's stuff their for the kids to play with. On my jobseekers [allowance] I can cover all my bills, it's only on sanctions you find it more difficult…..I would tell some of them [politicans] to come out and see it for themselves. And have a go at it and say right, you sign [for unemployment benefit] on for a fortnight and](https://archive.felixfeatures.com/img-get/I0000UX9FmbyacLc/t/200/I0000UX9FmbyacLc.jpg)
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![David Hesselton, 44.<br />
'To sum it up I felt like shit [when I first went to a foodbank] because I was a sponge. I felt like that all the time but what else are you supposed to do? I’ve used the food bank about 21 times. I couldn't give anything back so I gave my time and volunteered…. I know I am wanted and I know I can help; because I’m a happy, cheerful lad, it makes them cheerful and happy. I always have a good laugh with them. Back in 2013, I had never heard of them [foodbanks] but was sanctioned for 9 months [a penalty imposed on unemployment benefit for misdemeanours]. The 9 month sanction was when I walked out of work because I have been in employment less than six months, doing door work, security…..I would say over 50% of ours are sanctions. Some of it can be drug and alcohol abuse, which we see…. They will walk from anywhere, I’d say if anyone’s walking it will average 8-10 miles at least. I had a family in of eight and the lad came on his own and had walked from Ferry Hill which is about 6-8 miles, so fourteen mile round trip! ….. We have to use our own judgement if they are genuine or not. The primary aim of the food bank is if the need is great we will give it- even if they don't have a voucher. If the need is not great and they have no voucher, we can use our own judgement and not give it. <br />
Most of Brandon is council [housing], its really low employment, they are all practically unemployed. They don't care here much for work. Put a bomb on brandon and it wouldn't make much difference, I'm being serious.<br />
At the foodbank, there’s a computer there to do job search, they can learn english and maths if they want to, there's stuff their for the kids to play with. On my jobseekers [allowance] I can cover all my bills, it's only on sanctions you find it more difficult…..I would tell some of them [politicans] to come out and see it for themselves. And have a go at it and say right, you sign [for unemployment benefit] on for a fortnight and](https://archive.felixfeatures.com/img-get/I0000xL.furQjzgE/t/200/I0000xL.furQjzgE.jpg)
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![June Holt, 60, Durham.<br />
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'You won't believe it but three year ago I was ready for doing away with me self. I went into full depression and was going to take my full medication just to be with my [deceased] husband, to tell you the truth…. My husband had a heart transplant 14 years previous to his death, he was sick. He just carried on the best way he could. He was working before that, he did very well. After he had his heart transplant, we used to do all sorts together, we used to go fishing and everything. That's what I called my life…. After he died, we found out it was the stuff he was working with that made him ill. He was working with double glazing and it was the sealant in that that affected his heart. Every time he came home it was on his clothes. When I lost me husband I lost a friend for life…. It didn’t hit me till I found that out.Those three years I was in a world of me own, just getting on with life, then the third year I just went down rock bottom. In November I lost me benefits. I tried to do without, just the way we were brought up, and I was given a voucher to go and get some food. Then I went to the food bank and asked if there were any jobs. I do two afternoons in the food bank and three mornings in the office doing the filing…. I’ve used the food bank twice, which has been a big help to me. That's twice in three years. <br />
The second was when they tried to take me off my benefits again but I won my appeal but I had to do without food for a week or a fortnight to wait. There are a lot of people out there who have been sanctioned because they missed one job or were a minute late. It's not right.That needs sorting…. Everybody says it's amazing the way I have picked up.I feel it myself, I feel a lot better in myself. I have moved to a new place and I feel a lot better again….. Working at the food bank has helped step-by-step, and each step I have taken has been a big help. I call it my therapy because I have helped them and as I have](https://archive.felixfeatures.com/img-get/I0000ukZPk9pF9PQ/t/200/I0000ukZPk9pF9PQ.jpg)
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