Joseph is phlegmatic about his visits to the food bank. He says, “The reason I am here? The dole decided I missed an appointment, so they suspended my money.” He missed the appointment because he didn’t have £3.60 for the bus fare and didn’t feel up to the nine-mile walk to the job centre. He lost his job with ParcelForce 18 months ago. He has computer software skills, but says he is happy to take any kind of work. At home, he is down to two tins of baked beans, one tin of ravioli and four potatoes. It is the first time his benefits have been sanctioned and the first time he has received a food voucher. “It’s a good service” he says, “but we aren’t exactly a third-world country. We shouldn’t need places like this.”