Kelly Wellsted, 31, is a cleaner from Sheffield. She tells Claire Donnelly why a zero hours contract and low pay means she needs to use the food bank.
I’ve just got a part-time job as a cleaner at the football ground. I was hoping it would be more hours but it’s very part-time for now. It’s not set hours, it’s just when you’re needed.
I love the job though – I’m lucky to have it – and my colleagues are really nice.
It’s just hard to know what money you’re getting each month.
When my rent and bills have gone out I’ve got about £50 for the month.
My travel is really expensive. I walk when I can but I need to use public transport to get to work, it costs me £14 for my pass.
Even though I’m working I have to go to the food bank sometimes. I’ve been a few times. The one here is really nice.
I’ve been to others where it can be really stressful, where there have been people kicking off.
I walk here – it’s about 15 or 20 minutes so that’s ok.
I’m looking for a full-time job if I can get one.
I suffer from anxiety so I’ve struggled to get a job in the past. I get Universal Credit and I’m paying off rent arrears too – that’s a big chunk of my money.
I pay everything out then just try and manage with what I’ve got left.
There isn’t enough for any extras or if I need clothes or anything.
I’m lucky a family member bought me a big winter coat so I can get wrapped up.
Have Your Say
Tell us about the issues affecting you.
We are retracing the journey George Orwell made in his book, The Road to Wigan Pier, to tell modern stories of working and unemployed poverty.
They’ll appear in a regular series in the Daily Mirror newspaper and here, on our special anniversary website.
