Abuse survivor turns to food bank

Emma was placed in care at the age of 11 after ongoing sexual abuse by her father.

Aged 16, she was moved into a flat by herself with little support. Now aged 48, she’s a single mum of three, with a host of health problems: diabetes, depression, incontinence, agoraphobia and arthritis.

Two of her children have complex medical and additional needs.  Her son constantly breaks furniture in the house and rips and chews his clothes.  She receives Universal Credit and PIP disability payments, but money is tight and she often skips meals so her children can eat.

She said: “I felt like a failure asking the food bank for help, but my children come first.  There’s often nothing in the cupboards here, I’m constantly having to replace my son’s clothes.  The house is in good condition but we’ve no central heating and the electric radiators we have are expensive to run.

“I suffered domestic violence and, when my third child was born, my depression worsened and never got better.  I took an overdose because I couldn’t cope any longer.  Now, I hardly leave the house.

“Once I broke through the stigma and plucked up the courage to go, the food bank was so welcoming. Their caseworker Lara has helped me so much. She got me a grant for a bed, helped with vouchers for gas and, in the school holidays I get vouchers so I can buy food for the children in the supermarket.

“We try to live as cheaply as possible.  When the government were threatening to take away PIP disability payments, I was petrified – my anxiety was ten times worse.”

Hackney Foodbank is currently providing emergency food and support for more than 800 people a week. Many, like Emma, have complex physical and mental health conditions.

Click here to make a donation.