PURPOSE

This website is designed to allow people to share their stories. Bournemouth Foodbank believes that change is possible and we hope to use your story as vital evidence for change by working with politicians and decision makers.

Each section covers a different struggle, covering financial hardship, disability and families. To share your story, click the plus button + under the relevant section to write your story and click publish.

TRIGGER WARNING

Stories shared here may include references to poverty, physical/ mental health challenges, abuse, food insecurity, homelessness, and other difficult experiences. While we regularly monitor and moderate content, we recognise that some stories may still be distressing to read.

CONSENT

By sharing your story, you consent to it being publicly visible and potentially used to support advocacy efforts. If you wish to remain anonymous, you are free to choose how you are referred to on the Padlet. We ask that all participants help maintain a respectful and compassionate space — hate speech or discriminatory language will not be tolerated.

We hope to use this information for social media, fundraising bids, telling your story and sharing the amazing work you do as part of our community! If you decide you no longer want your story being shared, please email the project lead, Niaṁ on niamh@bournemouth.foodbank.org.uk and we can remove your story from digital platforms within 10 working days. Your personal details can be deleted at any time.

SECTIONS

• Crisis Support – Signposting for people in urgent need for help — such as homelessness, benefit delays, mental health crises, or fleeing abuse. The directory of support services encompasses different help available.

• Poverty & Financial Insecurity – Everyday struggles with food, housing, debt, benefits, and access to essentials.

• Disability & Health Inequality – Experiences of navigating with physical, sensory, or mental health conditions and how this impacts you physically, mentally, emotionally

• Families & Young People – Impact on parenting, child development, and access to opportunity.

COMMENTS

Feel free to leave comments on others’ posts to offer hope, share strength, and show solidarity — your support not only uplifts individuals but also strengthens our collective voice in advocating for change.

• Samaritans (24/7): 116 123

• Shout (Text Support): Text 'SHOUT' to 85258

• Crisis support column on this padlet

I have Autism, Learning Disability, Dyspraxia, Irlen Syndrome, Fibromyalgia, Complex PTSD and Generalised Anxiety Disorder

I receive enhanced PIP. The new PIP system can see me losing the enhanced rate and ending up on standard rate.

PIP pays towards my disability needs. A chunk of that pays for my care needs provided by my care provider, sensory needs, specialist glasses, coloured printer paper as I cannot see properly on white paper, overlays and most recently my rollator.

I also never realised I was eligible for the foodbank either.

Since they first became unwell my daughters have claimed initially DLA and then once post 16 PIP.  We have had to appeal decisions a number of times – with success.  Due to the difficulty getting their health issues initially diagnosed and validated, and the subsequent allegations made against me, they have always found the PIP process particularly triggering and difficult.  Having to ‘prove’ every few years that they are deserving of support, is humiliating and traumatising- if the entitlement wasn’t needed, they have told me they would rather go without than go through the process of applying for it.  The payments have been essential – they are both unable to work, but with the PIP award have both been able to undertake university courses.  PIP also helps them with mobility costs, private treatments (not possible on NHS), supplements and other costs. If they lose their PIP they would struggle to be able to complete university due to not being able to work whilst studying.  

I have been waiting for a wheelchair assessment since January of this year and it is unlikely that the NHS will supply me with the power chair or power assist that I would need in order to be no longer housebound, therefore I have no option but to save towards self funding a chair which is currently looking to cost around £2000 minimum to allow me to be independent.

These cuts will not just hurt disabled people and their carers, but will also lead to more DWP related suicides which have been an issue for decades at this point.

The PIP process itself is also grueling and the idea of making it more difficult to obtain these benefits are terrifying to think of. Many claimants have experienced rude assessors and lies they have written after requesting reports. I myself was deeply upset during my reassessment which lead me to tears and panic, my partner had to take over the conversation for the next 15 minutes but when I requested a copy of my report, it was noted that I was calm and able to engage fully with the assessment. I have difficulties with my memory, and while trying to explain the difficulties I have due to my conditions, I was told that I was being "inconsistent" and was told not to lie. I would never lie. It was also noted that there was no evidence of my memory troubles, despite it being a prominent symptom of both fibromyalgia and FND.

PIP is my lifeline and if it were to be taken away for any reason I would not be able to cope.

It is also important to remember that PIP is not an out of work benefit. For some people, PIP is what allows them to work, to fund transport, workplace accomodations and other supports that allow them to do their jobs.

These cuts make me scared. I fear for my future and my independence.

This was the first time I was on UC and the first time I was unemployed since aged 14 and the “social security” I had hoped for has led me to financial hardship. In many ways, I am very lucky because I have support around me, was able to rely on my mum, had access to credit cards and am lucky enough to have found work, when the job market at the moment is so challenging. Many others aren’t as fortunate and are experiencing much worse with less support in place. Social security and universal credit should provide security not precarity.

His PIP enables ME as his carer to work full time. I have to work full time in order to pay for my private rent, and look after our family as the main earner. I do not have the option in reducing my hours or caring for him full time like many might have done some years ago. PIP enables him in so many ways to continue his independance and connection to the community. But it also allows me to have my own career and thrive in having my own identity beyond his sight loss.

If PIP allows me to better myself financially by getting out to work even though I am a registered carer, how is there a need for reform? It surely works out that as a result of PIP, I am able to pay tax and NI back into the system whilst also providing a service to my community through my work.

Either the government supports me to care full time financially, or supports my husband to maintain his dignity and independence through PIP so I can work full time.

This is one of the reasons I'm absolutely disgusted and outraged with the proposed changes to disability and sickness related benefits. I have voted Labour all my life, but if these changes go through, I'll never vote Labour again. It is abhorrent that Labour is trying to make these changes under the pretense of getting us back to work, when if I lost the benefits I get (which I would with the proposed changes) I'd actually be unable to do the minimal work I can and do do. I'd actually have to chose between using the foodbanks and going homeless, and likely end up completely bed bound due to stress and be unable to follow my strict diet.

The disabled and chronically ill community are one of the most vulnerable groups in our society. We already have to struggle so much, the world is not built for us, we often can't work because employers won't hire us or make accessible roles, we suffer the most at the hands of the failing NHS. That's not even including the pain, symptoms, and fear we can feel due to our poor health. This government NEEDS to do better, not only should these changes be scrapped, but the disabled and chronically ill community deserves a heartfelt apology from everyone involved in the creation of that green paper.

Listen to our voices and do better, or lose out vote.

I started attending a local church Alpha course and when I was there I discovered my life's purpose. I was lacking direction and had too much time on my hands so I decided to volunteer at the warehouse in the foodbank. It helped me think of others instead of myself. I slowly started to fill my time with more things that I could do to help our local community. Donating clothes to we are humans, using my creative skills to give back through knitting projects and building up connections with the community by asking them what they need, what can I do to help?

I have been struggling to pay my bills and to buy food with the current cost of living crisis.

Last week I went to London for lobby day and had my voice heard. Little by little I am no longer isolated and I am making a difference. I am no longer accepting the things I cannot change. I am changing the things I cannot accept.

I now have hope that we can get through the hard times ahead as a community.

If you need help ask for it. If you can help, do it.

We each have a talent, a skill, a purpose. Do something to help someone today, pass forward the random acts of kindness.