Food bank’s case worker an “angel” for domestic violence survivor
Sarah moved to the UK from Pakistan for an arranged marriage and was subjected to emotional abuse and domestic violence.
When neighbours heard her being beaten, the police intervened and got her to safety. She lived in a women’s refuge for around 10 months before a Council provided her with a home.
She said: “When the police took me in, I didn’t have any shoes or a jacket, I hadn’t been allowed to shower and I hadn’t eaten for days. Now I have post-traumatic stress disorder. I couldn’t handle the humiliation of what happened to me. I’m still traumatized.
“Eventually, after years living in a refuge and a hotel, I was given a flat but there was no paint on the walls, everything was broken and there was no furniture. I’d never lived in a place by myself my whole life. With my ex-husband I was never allowed to go out.
“I used to go to the food bank and one time I met Lara, their case worker. She helped me so much. I was referred to an organization who gave me good furniture. I got a small sofa, a table, a fridge and a washing machine.
“The things Lara did for me were amazing – nobody else did that for me in my life. She is like a living angel. I’m very alone – my financial situation is so bad. I receive Universal Credit, but it’s not enough.”
Lara referred Sarah to to her local council for support with getting her home furnished and she was helped by an organization called Furnishing Futures, which works with survivors of domestic violence. She was also given supermarket vouchers via from the Cadent Foundation and a heated blanket, which enabled her to keep warm when she couldn’t afford to heat her home.
Lara Callaway, Hackney Foodbank’s Caseworker, said: “Sarah had been sleeping on a blow-up mattress for months when we met. Sadly, her experience of being given a completely unfurnished home is very common for those fleeing domestic abuse. Less than two per cent of social housing is furnished and, with minimal finances, they’re often forced to either live without furniture or take out expensive loans. Being able to signpost people for help with things like furniture and ways to keep warm offers a real lifeline and helps break the cycle of poverty.”
In addition to applying for grants for furniture and providing emergency food for people in crisis or trapped in poverty, Hackney Foodbank has a debt adviser, supports with benefits advice and can support with referrals for mental health support.
Lara added: “We are determined to help people escape poverty – so they don’t need to come to a food bank. The role of food banks is changing; in addition to ensuring people don’t go hungry, we’re providing much more support to ensure their situations improve.”