A DAD has admitted he only eats one meal a day to make sure he can feed his partner and son after losing his job.
Wayne Baker, 38, was left in tears after he was forced to use a food bank to feed his family.
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The desperate dad-of-one, from Thurrock, Essex, lost his job as a hod carrier in construction in November last year – and has since lost three stone.
Wayne said he regularly only eats once so partner Zoe, 32, and son Cody, 12, can have three meals a day.
He claims one week he even resorted to only eating toast for dinner as the struggling household had “nothing left”.
Wayne said he was “embarrassed” about having to resort to a food bank – but he had no choice.
He said: “When I went, it was hard to swallow.
“I think I cried the first time I went, I felt quite embarrassed as I thought: ‘Really, I’ve got to this stage?’
“It’s just the simple things really, like worrying about where the next meal [is] coming from because the food banks are handy, but they don’t supply an actual meal.
“It helps with the meals, but [I] just still constantly worry about when and where the next lot of food is coming from.”
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Wayne said he makes sure Zoe, who works part-time in childcare, and Cody, who’s just gone to secondary school, eat as a priority.
Trying to find other ways to make extra cash, Wayne has sold jewellery which was passed down to him.
Receiving help from the local council, Wayne has been put through to crowdfunding platform Beam.
Supporting those who need it most, Beam also set up fundraising pages – which can be donated to by the public.
Wayne’s page was able to raise around £600 in eight days.
The funds will be used to pay for equipment and training so he can get back into work.
Wayne added: “It just shows that even though there is a crisis going on, people are still willing to help.
“I could not really ask for help or money from friends or family as everyone is struggling with the cost of living right now.”
Help you can get if you’re struggling to pay bills
Struggling families are eligible for the Warm House Discount to help them tackle the cost of living.
There are also plenty of energy grants and schemes open to help you out if you’re struggling:
- British Gas Energy Trust Individuals and Family Fund
- British Gas Energy Trust
- EDF Customer Support Fund
- E.ON and E.ON Next Grants
- Octopus Energy Assist Fund
- OVO Energy
- Scottish Power Hardship Fund
There’s also a one-off fuel voucher from your energy supplier if you’re on a prepayment meter.
You can find out more here.
