Staffordshire University now has a Food Bank for poor students

[arista]

How Very Nice of Them


https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-england-stoke-staffordshire-49842550/we-are-stoke-on-trent-the-food-bank-for-students


Sign Of The Times.

[Alf]

What is the criteria to use a food bank, do you have to show any proof of struggling or Identification?

I'm thinking of doing my shopping there, it'll save me a few Bob.

[arista]

What is the criteria to use a food bank, do you have to show any proof of struggling or Identification?

I thinking of doing my shopping there, it'll save me a few Bob.


Yes.


Alf sneaking in to the Uni Food Bank
saying he lost his ID
but can he as a Mature Student
have ten tins of Grub.

[Josy]

What is the criteria to use a food bank, do you have to show any proof of struggling or Identification?

I'm thinking of doing my shopping there, it'll save me a few Bob.Not sure about anywhere else but in our nearest big town it has to be the jobcentre, social work or citizen's advice centre that refers people to the food bank with a reference number.

I only know that because I was on the bus one day and helped a struggling 96 year old man onto his seat (he had 2 walking aids), he was telling me he was only out of the house because after his rent, electric and other bills were paid he had no money left each week for food so had to walk to the cab centre for his referral then get the bus to the food bank, I was actually heartbroken and went home in tears after speaking to him :/

[Toy Soldier]

In all seriousness, it's a real problem. In the summer between my 1st and 2nd year, I ended up not being able to go home as planned (family reasons). I was in Halls of Residence in 1st year - and that ends at the end of term (May) so I ended up moving into my 2nd yer private rental alone for 3 months (as all of my friends went home for summer).

You also don't get student maintenance loan over summer.

I had next to no money, at all, after rent and basic bills - literally around £4 a week. I was living on rice fried up with peppers, adding a chicken breast twice a week for protein. I was eating it out of the frying pan because I couldn't afford a ****ing plate.

I lost a significant amount of weight and was... not very well by the time I got my first student loan payment (at the end of August).

I also had multiple friends throughout my 4 years at Uni who I had to lend money to / donate food to due to them having literally none.

I think this is something that's very much needed, especially for kids straight out of school.

[arista]

Not sure about anywhere else but in our nearest big town it has to be the jobcentre, social work or citizen's advice centre that refers people to the food bank with a reference number.

I only know that because I was on the bus one day and helped a struggling 96 year old man onto his seat (he had 2 walking aids), he was telling me he was only out of the house because after his rent, electric and other bills were paid he had no money left each week for food so had to walk to the cab centre for his referral then get the bus to the food bank, I was actually heartbroken and went home in tears after speaking to him :/




Yes 96 year old
getting help from out Josy
That's great , even though it sad
the man is all alone

[Oliver_W]

While the economy isn't great, I'd wonder if less well-off prospective students shouldn't consider going to a university which is commutable from their home instead of moving, and/or working through their course if the workload allows it.

I'm not one of those who says "don't waste time with a pointless degree like Sociology" but not all courses have a clear career path following them, especially when half of young people are going to university, so I would suggest people think very carefully about what and where they study, because if down the line you want to be a nurse or teacher then you're a bit screwed because you only get four years worth of student loans.

[arista]

While the economy isn't great, I'd wonder if less well-off prospective students shouldn't consider going to a university which is commutable from their home instead of moving, and/or working through their course if the workload allows it.

I'm not one of those who says "don't waste time with a pointless degree like Sociology" but not all courses have a clear career path following them, especially when half of young people are going to university, so I would suggest people think very carefully about what and where they study, because if down the line you want to be a nurse or teacher then you're a bit screwed because you only get four years worth of student loans.


Yes the End result after a University Course
sometimes means they do not want to give you a job.
As while you wasted your time, less jobs are around,

If only the Student did Plumbing

[Oliver_W]

Yes the End result after a University
sometimes means they do not want to give you a job.

And that's fine - plenty of people are happy to work in a non-grad job which has nothing to do with their degrees. Who cares, it's their decision. All I'd be concerned about would be if they can personally afford it, and using up their student loans before they know what they want to do in life.


As while you wasted your time, less jobs are around,

If only the Student did Plumbing
I don't think it's a waste of time - people are living to their hundreds now, and who knows what the life expectancy will be when the current teens are that old? So why not have three or so years of studying something they love? All that could be wasted is the money given, if they later decide they want a qualified job.

[arista]

And that's fine - plenty of people are happy to work in a non-grad job which has nothing to do with their degrees. Who cares, it's their decision. All I'd be concerned about would be if they can personally afford it, and using up their student loans before they know what they want to do in life.


Such Waste of Time,
Being a Plumber
they could work 24/7
Big Cash

[arista]

[I don't think it's a waste of time - people are living to their hundreds now,
and who knows what the life expectancy will be when the current teens are that old?
So why not have three or so years of studying something they love? All that could be wasted is the money given,
if they later decide they want a qualified job. ]


Sure if they make it that far.
Oliver

[Oliver_W]

Such Waste of Time,
Being a Plumber
they could work 24/7
Big Cash

https://nationalcareers.service.gov.uk/job-profiles/plumber

You don't need a degree to be a plumber. Someone could study whatever they wanted, and then buckle down and become a plumber.

[arista]

https://nationalcareers.service.gov.uk/job-profiles/plumber

You don't need a degree to be a plumber. Someone could study whatever they wanted, and then buckle down and become a plumber.



I know that
I am saying do a Apprentice
become a Plumber
Get Rich


Do not waste time in a Uni.

[Toy Soldier]

Brexit Britain, where millions of plumbers become stinking rich doing jobs for each other. It's a flawless plan.

[bots]

when i was at uni, my weekly food budget was £5, so yes, any help with nutrition at uni has got to be a good thing

[Oliver_W]

I know that
I am saying do a Apprentice
become a Plumber
Get Rich


Do not waste time in a Uni.
Do both! Become a plumber who knows a lot about Sociology! It's only a waste of time if you're miserable.



Brexit Britain, where millions of plumbers become stinking rich doing jobs for each other. It's a flawless plan.
I wish my career let me do that haha, it's very rewarding but it's not highly paid.

[Twosugars]

Tory Britain, nice one

[Denver]

Tory Britain, nice one

Wasnt Foodbanks a major thing during the labour government?

[Oliver_W]

Wasnt Foodbanks a major thing during the labour government?

Their use has increased in recent years though.

[Alf]

Tory Britain, nice oneFood banks are a good thing, especially when they were needed after three terms of New Labour.

[Twosugars]

Food banks are a good thing, especially when they were needed after three terms of New Labour.

Their use has increased in recent years though.

.

[The Slim Reaper]

Wasnt Foodbanks a major thing during the labour government?

The great man would have no time for your tory nonsense.

https://i.pinimg.com/originals/8c/52/ad/8c52ad98b472a17829c43a2c9775da40.jpg

[Alf]

The great man would have no time for your tory nonsense.

https://i.pinimg.com/originals/8c/52/ad/8c52ad98b472a17829c43a2c9775da40.jpgI knew I was an Evertonian for a reason.

[Alf]

Brian Clough was a bit of a socialist I believe, but I reckon he and Shankley would be with the people on the side of Brexit and not with the establishment.

[The Slim Reaper]

Brian Clough was a bit of a socialist I believe, but I reckon he and Shankley would be with the people on the side of Brexit and not with the establishment.

If Shankly was alive he would have seen what the tories did to the city with thatcher, and how they relied on the EU to help them, so he definitely wouldn't. However, Clough pushed the tory lies about hillsborough up until he died, so you're probably right about him.

[Vicky.]

Nice of them? Well yeah I guess. The need for it in the first place though is shocking in this country. Though as I understand, foodbank usage is massively up recently due to UC bull****. And apparently its GREAT NEWS that so many food banks are getting set up/used..umm :umm2:

[Vicky.]

Not sure about anywhere else but in our nearest big town it has to be the jobcentre, social work or citizen's advice centre that refers people to the food bank with a reference number.


Yup, need referred, and can only use 2 times a year too at the ones round here, which..I see why its limited given how much they are needed for so many people, but also seems a bit harsh at the same time, as a lot of people need more help than a few weeks worth given waiting times are like 6 weeks plus.

I know people like to joke about how its much cheaper and such to just fake poorness to go to a food bank, but..well its not like you get luxury stuff anyway, nothing at all like a normal shop. Or it was not the one time I had to use one, which was a fair few years back tbf. Very very basic. Obviously a huge help at the time, and I was very grateful, but..yeah nothing like how people seem to think, you don't get to go pick your own stuff kind of like a supermarket, or anything.