POVERTY charity manager Kathryn Ford is having a ‘week without’ in a bid to emphasise the struggles with poverty many people across Swindon face.

Kathryn, 38, is centre manager at Christians Against Poverty, based in Highworth, who provide debt advice.

To promote their work and highlight the problems their clients face, from Monday, she will be living on a £10 food budget for the week.

The national charity is appealing for as many people as possible to take on the a week without challenge and see how they fare.

It doesn’t necessarily have to be a food budget cut, it could include giving up TV, the internet or other commodities many take for granted.

Donations would also be welcome to help fund the services which CAP provide.

Kathryn, who lives in Highworth, said: “It’s going to be a challenge to source all of my meals with only £10.

“This is a situation that many deal with daily, but not out of choice.

“We are raising money for CAP but the main reason we are doing this is so that we can identify with people in poverty in the UK."

Kathryn said that she expects to spend the week living off a breakfast of toast and a dinner of rice and pasta.

She said: “There’s obviously a little bit of trepidation about how it is going to go.

“I imagine that it won’t be the most nutritious week of eating I’ve ever had as unfortunately healthy food isn’t cheap.

“In my role I encounter people who are stuck in this situation on a daily basis.”

Kathryn lives with her husband Matt and children Ethan, 12, Caleb, 10, and eight-year-old Summer.

She said: “They’re going to be really supportive of me, I’m sure, and they understand why I’m doing this. I’d ask as many people as possible to take on the week without.”

CAP provides advice and assistance to help people manage their budgets and become debt free.

For more information visit www.capuk.org/weekwithout.