LENT was long this year, with each passing week bringing its own set of challenges for a Methodist leader and his wife living on the minimum wage.

David Emison and teacher Vivienne each earn around £17,500 a year, yet for six weeks up to Easter survived on just £125 a week.

They did it to highlight the "scandal" of low pay in this country and to back a Church Action on Poverty initiative to bring the issue into the public arena.

"I don't want the 11 million people in Britain who live on low pay to think we have experienced what they are experiencing," said Cumbria's Methodist chief. "Easter weekend and it was all over for us.

"We have been trying to discover something of how it feels but, more importantly, to draw attention to the minimum wage scandal."

According to Action on Poverty figures, two million children in the UK every day go without adequate clothing and meals.

Their health, education and job prospects are all at risk from living below the poverty line, says the charity.

Nine and a half million people live in homes they cannot afford to heat. Poor housing, unemployment, debt and low incomes are a reality for millions.

"Poverty is not just about lack of money. It takes away people's dignity and self-respect, leaving them isolated and ignored," said Church Action on Poverty.

The Penrith-based church leader says this beautiful county has more than its fair share of poverty and behind the rural idyll scenes are too many cases of extreme hardship and stress.

"In cities, poverty is easily spotted - rural deprivation is harder to define," explains David.

"There are a lot of tenant farmers on less than £4.20 an hour, so they have to look at doing two jobs to make ends meet.

"Housing costs are astronomical. Transport is a major obstacle, hospitals can be 50 or 60 miles away. There is no public transport, so people have to run cars."

David confessed the Lenten mission initially wasn't too bad. The couple had reserves of food in their cupboards, and the sacrifices of missing out on the finer things of life particularly Friday night fish suppers in the down town chippy a small price to pay.

As the weeks passed, it became ever harder to make ends meet and a £140 servicing for Vivienne's car was a severe knock.

"We knew it was coming up and had been putting money aside for it. By one Tuesday we had literally run out of money. There was nothing left. I badly needed a hair cut and had to borrow from the car fund to pay for it," said David.

"It took four weeks to run out of money and food reserves. Suddenly, we were making sense of what it was all about.

"This is reality for the millions existing on the £4.20 an hour minimum wage. Each week you would rob Peter to pay Paul. For many, there is no alternative to going into debt.

"You would be worrying about telephone, electricity and gas bills dropping on the mat. Life would be a constant battle for financial survival."

Even special offers in supermarkets are often confined to three items for the price of two, he said, and for those on the poverty line affording to buy just one would be a struggle.

"It seems sad the disadvantaged can't use special offers. We, and everyone else on comfortable incomes, are insulated from all this.

"Money isn't really an issue for us. We use cards, cheques, cash machines. There is money in the account that adequately covers us. We don't have to count up.

"For the first time in years I know how much things cost, because it really matters."

David stressed he and his wife lived modestly, by many people's standards. The luxury is a 19ft sailing boat on Ullswater, his pride and joy.

"It is beautiful, and I love it. But there is no way I could afford it on the minimum wage."

With two adult sons - who both earn more than their parents the boys have offered to send food parcels.

"It would have done them good to take part in the challenge," said their father, wryly.

"I know this is an artificial gesture and in my heart I can't say we will not quickly fall back into the easy lifestyle, living for what we want rather than what we need."

Christians and other church leaders across the country also took part in the Lent minimum wage challenge.

April 24, 2003 11:30