Imagine: living under the breadline
When people found out I was going to the Foodbank they were like ‘aren’t you ashamed of yourself’… it was really depressing.
Imagine, just for a moment,
- That you can’t afford that basic school uniform.
- That your employer of 20 years has just made you redundant.
- Or perhaps you’ve even just fled an abusive relationship, and find yourself without a home, without resources.
These are things that can happen to any of us, anywhere. Sadly, we see this literally every day. Over 573 households have been referred to our Foodbank for emergency food support in 2023 so far. Last year, we supported 1 in 40 households in the Lisburn area – and we know this is the tip of the iceberg, with as many as 1 in 6 adults in Northern Ireland being food insecure.
Re-imagine: living with equity
These very real examples explain why Universal Credit should offer support to anyone in need of help, but right now it’s not providing enough to cover the cost of life’s essentials, such as food, household bills and travel costs, with 90% of low-income households receiving Universal Credit going without. The basic rate of Universal Credit is just £85, which falls £35 short of what people actually need.
On the 8th and 9th of September, Foodbanks across the network are taking part in the Trussell Trust Days of Action to promote the Guaranteeing our Essentials campaign. The UK government must make sure the basic rate of Universal Credit at least covers life’s essentials and that support can never be pulled below that level.
This would be like being treated like an equal, like there’s no shame [in needing a bit of support].
Reality check: making it happen
People say actions speak much louder than words.
That’s why we’d love you to join us – we’re asking just one thing, using two minutes of your time. Sign and share the petition, help us to to lobby the UK Government to guarantee our essentials.
If you have time to take this action one step further, you can email your MP, or get in touch with us to chat about how we can work together. We can’t do this without you!
