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29
Nov 2021
Harrogate mum who struggled to feed kids wants to break stigma
A single mum with four children from Harrogate has opened up about her experience of struggling to pay the bills to try and break the stigma around poverty.
Kayleigh Cooper lost her job manning the phones in the evenings at a taxi company early in the coronavirus pandemic.
So overnight, after never worrying about money, she started to wonder how she could afford her rising living costs while also feeding her children.
She gets Universal Credit and food vouchers but they have not been able to cover her costs.
Read more:
- Community grocery for people in need opens in Harrogate
- Unemployment in Harrogate district falls despite end of furlough
Ms Cooper felt ashamed about her situation at first. But after reaching out for support, she now wants to let others know that they do not need to "suffer in silence" like she did. She said:
Reaching out for support at the new community grocery
A neighbour told Ms Cooper about the community grocery run by the Resurrected Bites team, which opened last month at New Park Primary Academy Community Hub.
She was hesitant at first but broke down in tears when she finally decided to go and ask for help.
People pay £5 a year to sign up as members and are then entitled to pay £3, £6 or £9 depending on the size of their family. The value of the items for the £3 shop would usually cost around £30.
It has a wide range of tinned, fresh food and frozen food. The shop also stocks toiletries, sanitary products and nappies in various sizes.
The shop, which can be found in one of the school’s separate buildings on West Street, just off Skipton Road, is open daily every Tuesday and Thursday between 9.30am and 3.30pm. Ms Cooper added:
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