International Women’s Day 2023: Hackney Foodbank pays tribute to inspirational local women and calls on government to fix ‘unfair system’

Marva Ledwidge. Photograph: Pip and Nut

Hackney Foodbank is marking International Women’s Day with a call for improved maternity pay, better subsidised childcare, and benefits that go further during a cost-of-living crisis.

Today is a global celebration of the achievements of women, and along with its plea to the government for a fairer system, the charity is shining a spotlight on five women who inspire its team.

Marva Ledwidge joined the Foodbank as a volunteer just a month after it was established and is now the coordinator for its Stoke Newington food distribution centre.

In 10 years, she has devoted more than 1,500 hours of her time and regularly goes above and beyond, teaching visitors how to shop and cook on a budget.

Ledwidge worked as a nurse before retiring to care for her husband.

She said: “When I started, we worked out of the grounds of a church in Hoxton and one in Dalston – there were shipping containers in the grounds and, in the winter, we would wade through mud and snow to get to the food.

“At the beginning, I would cook scrambled eggs with toast and beans for people who came to the food bank. Some hadn’t eaten for three days.”

In her spare time, Ledwidge runs a breakfast club for homeless people and a coffee morning.

She added: “I do enjoy volunteering for the Foodbank. Even though I am a carer myself, it helps me survive.

“Seeing other people’s plight and realising my situation is so different; it helps to focus on what I can do for others.”

Marva’s grown-up children are also long-term volunteers.

Kat, 45, worked in retail but was made redundant just before the pandemic.

The single mum-of-two has an eight-month-old girl and a 21-year-old son. She is on Universal Credit but it isn’t enough to cover even the basic living costs.

She regularly skips meals and rarely has treats.

Kat said: “I can’t go back to work yet because childcare is so expensive. I do everything I can to help my daughter learn and develop – I take her to drop-in centres, swimming and the library.

“She only has a few toys but I make sure she has food, play, interaction and stimulation – I’m determined to get it right.

“I often just have a piece of toast or cereal for dinner. I struggle to pay for the basics – nappies and wipes are so expensive. Everything has gone up in price.

“Universal Credit is rubbish – it just isn’t enough.

“The first time I came to the food bank I felt embarrassed but you soon realise lots of us are having the same struggles.”

Ayşe Odele. Photograph: Jenny Matthews

Ayşe Odele, 29, has been volunteering at the Foodbank’s Clapton distribution centre since November 2021. Before that, she volunteered at a food bank in Barking.

She said: “It sounds a bit cheesy but I started volunteering after watching a storyline on EastEnders – one of the characters was accessing the food bank. Before that, I’d never considered people in so much need.

“It is so heart-warming – it’s nothing for me to give up a small amount of time to do this. I meet people from different backgrounds and massively sympathise. Some have had very difficult lives.

“The demographic of who comes to us is changing so much – it really could happen to anyone.

“I recently met a woman who had been regularly donating to the food bank with her boyfriend. Now he’s in prison and she’s one of our visitors, receiving support. Things can change so quickly.

“I’ve made some great friends volunteering; there are more women volunteers here and we have similar values.”

Magnata, 46, trained in property management and civil engineering but works part-time as a retail assistant because it allows her to look after her young children.

She used to live in Lewisham but was re-housed in Islington in a small flat that costs more than £1,700 per month. Her benefits no longer cover all the rent and the small amount she earns has to make up the shortfall and cover living costs.

The father of two of Magnata’s children is an asylum seeker waiting for his application to live here to be approved. In the meantime, he’s unable to live with his family.

Magnata said: “I’m looking for another job and I’d like to move somewhere cheaper. My salary and Universal Credit just aren’t enough to pay the rent and the bills, let alone food. My hair is falling out because of the stress.”

Nicola Hilliard has been a volunteer for the Foodbank for more than a decade.

She used to work in the distribution centres and now devotes around 30 hours per month to monitoring emails and ensuring the list of agencies providing support to visitors is up to date.

The former librarian said: ““When I retired at the age of 60, I didn’t really have a plan – I started volunteering for the night shelter and then heard a new food bank was opening.

“I love order! When I worked in the food distribution centre in Stoke Newington, I had a reputation for organising everything.

“I stopped in the food distribution centre when Covid came and really miss it. The volunteers are lovely and I made some really good friends.

“I have plenty of time, which is a luxury, so it’s easy for me to help out with the emails every day.”

Nicola Hilliard. Photograph: Kristian Buus

These are just a few of the women who perform what Foodbank CEO Pat Fitzsimons describes as “everyday heroics” in an “unfair system”.

Fitzsimons said: “Every day we witness the coming together of remarkable women – those who make huge sacrifices so their children can eat by skipping meals, working long hours and multiple jobs, and those who volunteer their time to help others.

“There is a strong sense of sisterhood here and a shared frustration that so many women are forced to turn to food banks.

“When people in caring professions like nursing and teaching can’t afford the basics, you know the system is broken.

“We regularly meet mothers whose statutory maternity pay falls well short of what it takes to feed a family and those who can’t afford to return to work because childcare costs are so high.”

Hackney Foodbank is running an emergency £100k appeal to help it support people through the “toughest time in living memory”.

For more information about the charity, including how to volunteer, visit hackney.foodbank.org.uk.