"I relocated to the UK 13 years ago, having been a community support worker for a UK women’s development charity in Uganda. For the past seven years, I’ve worked as a carer in Middlesborough for an older lady three nights a week. Since she died, though, I’ve been struggling to find work. I feel that’s because of my age. 

Although I’m managing to pay my rent on my council house, all my bills have gone up, so my savings are gone. I’ve never missed a payment. I use a little heating, but it’s still cold and means I only eat twice a day. How is this possible? And you no longer eat what you want; you eat what’s there. Chicken and beef are so expensive, so I buy vegetables, rice and beans."