This case study was written on behalf of Impact Initiatives. Names have been changed to protect the service user’s identity.
Thrown into uncertainty
Kim was referred to Impact Initiatives’ Food Access Support team in November 2021 after a sudden change in her circumstances. She has various disabilities and chronic illnesses and lived with her partner as her carer. However, when her partner suddenly left her she was lumped with large amounts of debt from financial abuse and no support for her conditions. Kim found herself without any money nor any family to turn to. With mobility and chronic digestion issues also meaning she could not collect her own food of a suitable diet to maintain her health, her options were otherwise slim.
Impact were able to connect Kim with Money Advice Plus, food vouchers from the Local Discretionary Social Fund and a volunteer shopper to deliver her food. While she is receiving advice to clear her debt, this will be a lengthy process over the coming year so she will still need vital support accessing food.
An unsustainable welfare system
Now the government support she was relying on has been used up. Although Impact were able to find an appropriate food bank for Kim to provide her with weekly fresh fruit and vegetables, they could not provide home deliveries as they need to recruit volunteer drivers.
She was able to receive a lifeline from Impact of food shop deliveries every other week using money from the Household Support Fund, which was due to end on 31st March. In the Chancellor’s Spring Statement on 23rd March, he announced this fund would continue. However, while local authorities move to allocate the new funding in the coming months, Kim’s position is still mired in uncertainty. The services available to her still can’t address the root of the issues she is facing. The ordeal has taken a huge toll on her mental health, leaving her anxious about her future and ability to look after her health.
The bigger issue
The Cost of Living crisis is similarly affecting people all across Brighton and Hove, which often results in them cutting back on essentials like food to survive. Unfortunately, our current welfare services are forcing people like Kim to turn elsewhere for vital support. At the same time, food banks are needing to recruit more volunteers to meet this demand.
As food and fuel prices continue to soar, more people are being left vulnerable and housebound, with an inadequate welfare system that continues to fail people in our city. The predictions for many already on the poverty line make grim reading. Food banks cannot continue to bear the brunt of this emergency alone. Our cost of living statement to the Chancellor and DWP Committee with the Emergency Food Network unfortunately fell on deaf ears, but we will continue to campaign for people like Kim to get the support they desperately need.
Make a difference
If you would like to volunteer for your local food bank and help deliver food to housebound residents, please contact jday@bhfood.bozboz.dev to help match you to your local emergency food provider.
If you would like to volunteer as a shopper for Impact Initiative’s Food Access Support contact Ciara on 01273 322950, email food.access@impact-initiatives.org.uk or find their application form here.
See advice about what to do if you are struggling to afford food.
If you need help accessing emergency food see our directory.
