I have lived in Glasgow since I was about eight years old. Nowadays I’ve got a great circle of friends around me who have supported me and helped me do things in life that I thought were not possible. Years ago, I was made redundant and I didn’t know what to do with myself. That went on for two years; it was terrible. I just shut myself away from the world. I didn’t have any push, any encouragement, so I just sat in the house.
It’s all around us, people like that, people who are going through the same thing, not getting helped by anybody. Many of us are just a wage packet away from being in severe problems. We are all vulnerable.
Eight years ago a group of us sat at a kitchen table just around the corner from here, talking about how decisions about poverty must involve us, the people who are experiencing it. Olivia was in my tummy when I first sat at that table, and from that the Poverty Truth Commission was set up, which I have been involved with ever since. Poverty isn’t just about money. It’s also about things like education and housing.
Everybody wants it better for their kids. I wish there had been a lot more encouragement in my childhood, so I try my hardest now for mine. I don’t want my kids to be on benefits, in the system. I had a hell of a time on it myself before I got a great opportunity with where I work now at Bridging the Gap. We run a kitchen in a block of flats in the Gorbals, where we bake fresh bread.
People from all walks of life come in and get involved with us, bake with us: locals in the area, refugees, basically people who are vulnerable for one reason or another. It’s about sharing, working together and getting people involved who live in the community, people who have great skills.
I get a living wage but I am always worrying about money. Sometimes it’s still a question of fares for the bus for my son to go to college, or putting food on the table. I receive some benefits and I’m dead grateful for that money, but I wish I could get away from it.