I Never Thought it Would Happen to Me

Food insecurity can happen to anyone. It is not always the result of long-term poverty or unemployment. Sometimes a sudden crisis such as an accident, an illness, or an unexpected change in circumstances can leave someone without reliable access to food. This is what happened to one of our trustees, Kate Haddow. For nearly ten years she worked, volunteered, researched and published work on food aid in the UK, but she never imagined she would experience food insecurity herself.

​In the blog below, Kate shares her personal experience following a freak accident that left her temporarily without a home. Her reflections challenge common misconceptions about who might need food aid and highlight the stigma and practical difficulties faced when you are suddenly unable to feed yourself in the way most of us take for granted. We are grateful to Kate for her honesty and courage in sharing her story.

Kate's story

​Before delving into this blog, it’s worth giving some context to my story. For nearly ten years I have worked, volunteered, researched and published work on food aid in the UK. I never imagined I would one day sit down to write something like this — about me.

I became food insecure through a freak, one-off accident. My home was flooded and my partner and I had to be temporarily rehoused in a hotel. At first, I knew exactly what people would think: A hotel? Why are you complaining? How can you be food insecure in a hotel? How dare you compare yourself to someone using a food bank when you’re in a hotel!

Well, let me explain. Food insecurity means not having reliable access to safe, nutritious food. We didn’t have a home and therefore couldn’t store, cook or prepare food.

Food insecurity happens on a spectrum: mild, moderate and severe. I recognise that my case is nowhere near as bad as many of the stories I have heard and witnessed first-hand. You’ll also notice I use specific terms like food insecure intentionally, and I’ll explain why.

This blog is my personal experience. I haven’t written it for sympathy. Everyone’s experience is unique, and I still consider myself fairly lucky in what has been a bizarre time. But this is my truth. I want people to know that food insecurity can happen to anyone and to challenge the misconceptions about food aid and the people who need it. Some of the things I raise here will resonate with the people we support through the food bank.

Living with the stigma

​The night we were evacuated, one of my first thoughts was: how and what were we going to eat? The hotel gave us vouchers for the restaurant, but every day we had to ask for them. For me, that was humiliating. It felt like I was asking permission to eat, unlike other guests who could simply pay.

One staff member looked at me with utter disgust, as if I was a ‘scrounger’. That look has stayed with me.

The stigma was reinforced by others too. When people heard the hotel provided our meals, some made cruel comments: “Nice for some,” or “Must be nice not having to do the dishes.” I was shocked that anyone could begrudge us food.

The loss of choice and control

​Another thing that struck me was the lack of choice. It wasn’t just what food we ate, but also when and where.Dinner was served only between 4.30 and 5.30pm — while I was still at work. I missed several meals that week. The hotel also offered packed lunches, but refused to prepare one I could take to work, so I ended up buying sandwiches every day, which was costly.

And when you’re food insecure, there’s no space for dietary requirements. Poor people, it seems, aren’t allowed them. God help you if you’re vegan.

One incident reduced me to tears. I asked the bar staff for a glass of water, not wanting to drink from the bathroom tap. He refused and told me to buy a bottle — £3.75. I walked away holding the most expensive water I’ve ever bought, stunned that in 2025 I had to ask for something so basic.

When eating affects everything

​We are constantly told to eat well for our health. I try to maintain a balanced diet, but during this time I was anxious about what I was eating. The food provided wasn’t bad, but it wasn’t what I’d call balanced. I never want to see chips again! If I had been eating like that long-term, I would have faced serious health risks.

It can happen to anyone

​I debated long and hard about writing this blog. Could I really write about food insecurity caused by a freak accident? Would my reflections carry any truth? But that’s the point: everyone’s situation is unique. Sometimes a single incident leaves you without access to food and in need of help. I didn’t use a food bank, but many of the things I experienced will resonate with people who have.

Food insecurity in our community

Kate’s story is just one example of how suddenly and unexpectedly food insecurity can affect people’s lives. Here in West Northumberland, many more households are facing similar challenges every day. Our recent report, Poverty on Our Doorstep, highlights the reality of what people in our community are going through. 

​We encourage you to read the report to better understand the pressures local individuals and families are under, and why our work remains so vital.

READ REPORT