Martyn’s story
I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for the food bank
Martyn was married with children and had a successful career. But when his relationship broke down, he lost everything – his family, his home, his job. Acute anxiety made finding new work impossible and he was left with no option but to start claiming Universal Credit.
“I managed to find a place in Nantwich about 18 months ago. I had no bed, no furniture, nothing. It’s taken me 18 months of really battling to get all the normal things that previously I possibly took for granted. I found it difficult to even want to decorate because as a parent, you do everything for your kids – I didn’t feel I was worthy of it.
Thankfully, the local council put me in touch with Nantwich Foodbank. Whilst a food parcel helps if you’re stuck, it doesn’t solve the problem. The team at Nantwich Foodbank gave me so much more than that.
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Damien, the project manager, will phone me at least once a month asking how I am and suggesting organizations to speak to that can offer further support. When you’ve lost trust in everyone and are in a situation you never expected to be in, having that person who asks what caused the problem and how can we stop you being in this position again in six months helps you become a lot more self-sufficient.
I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for the support I’ve had from the food bank. And it’s not just keeping me alive, it’s driving me forward.
There’s not the support from the social security system that there should be. So people like Damien are picking up the pieces. It makes a huge difference but he shouldn’t have to do that. There’s money there in government, it just doesn’t filter down to the support agencies.
But although the cost of living is a real worry, I know there are people there who genuinely want to support me. I’m managing my acute anxiety and am ready to get back into full-time employment.
After a long time of being a bystander in my own life, I’m feeling very positive about the future.