For the first time in HISTORY UNICEF will help feed children in the UK

[Smithy]

https://twitter.com/skynews/status/1339134511611863040?s=21

Shocking

[arista]

Thats good

[Crimson Dynamo]

looks a nice healthy box but they will need sugar for the weetabix as kids wont like it just with milk

[Oliver_W]

Thats good

It's not good that it needs to happen.

That said, I reject the idea that this is the first time children in the UK could have done with help with UNICEF, that predates the current ****ty government by ... forever.

[Smithy]

Thats good

How is it good that the 6th richest economy in the world needs a charity to feed children?

It’s shameful

[Zizu]

How is it good that the 6th richest economy in the world needs a charity to feed children?



It’s shameful



I’ve never understood how the USA are apparently the worlds richest country whilst at the same time being the country with the largest debt !!!


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[The Slim Reaper]

I’ve never understood how the USA are apparently the worlds richest country whilst at the same time being the country with the largest debt !!!


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Because debt for a country is not the same as debt for a person. It's actually really easy to explain though. Constant 40 year tax cuts and endless war don't really work out too well for a nations finances. Throw in the odd capitalism crisis like 08, and there you have your debt.

[Alf]

Why, is there children in need?

If only we had a charity that raises millions every year to help children in need.

[Zizu]

Because debt for a country is not the same as debt for a person. It's actually really easy to explain though. Constant 40 year tax cuts and endless war don't really work out too well for a nations finances. Throw in the odd capitalism crisis like 08, and there you have your debt.



But it still seems odd that the richest country can also be the poorest one .. at the same time ?


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[Oliver_W]

But it still seems odd that the richest country can also be the poorest one .. at the same time ?


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Having money and owing money aren't mutually exclusive.

[The Slim Reaper]

But it still seems odd that the richest country can also be the poorest one .. at the same time ?


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Not really, anyone with a mortgage has more debt than someone living in social housing, but they obviously have more wealth.

[Alf]

I said the same to Marcus Rashford.

While what he was trying to achieve was very noble of him, he was asking the wrong people for the funding. It's not the governments job to pay for people's children. However, there is a charity that raises millions every year, actually called "Children in need" I told Rashford, by tweet, to pester them, it makes far more sense.

[Crimson Dynamo]

1339151831663046657

[Withano]

Thats good

It’s not good. Your government is failing the public.

[thesheriff443]

I have time for people that find themselves in genuine need but there are plenty that use food banks so they can spend their benefits on drink drugs and fags.

[Crimson Dynamo]

I have time for people that find themselves in genuine need but there are plenty that use food banks so they can spend their benefits on drink drugs and fags.

devious people will always take advantage of well-meaning people and hide it all behind morality

[The Slim Reaper]

Funny how the "all lives matter" and "we need to look after our own" are the same people who see no issue with the a government willing to let our own children starve. It's almost like they weren''t being totally honest. Almost.

[DouglasS]

Moreso I think people are saying the system perhaps needs some changes, some people will abuse the money and spend it on drugs/alcohol rather than feeding their children/dependents. perhaps those with children’s allowance should receive vouchers to ensure their child does not go hungry as this cannot be spent on other things

[Alf]

Funny how the "all lives matter" and "we need to look after our own" are the same people who see no issue with the a government willing to let our own children starve. It's almost like they weren''t being totally honest. Almost.That money doesn't belong to the government, it' s the peoples money.

You want to force the people into paying for other people's children, like you're some kind of dictator.

On the other hand, charity is a free choice to give.

[The Slim Reaper]

That money doesn't belong to the government, it' s the peoples money.

You want to force the people into paying for other people's children, like you're some kind of dictator.

On the other hand, charity is a free choice to give.

I think the job of any government is to provide the most basic of needs for it's population. Yes, I do want my taxes to pay for other peoples children, just like I want my taxes to pay for their healthcare too. What I don't want is my money being used to give out PPE contracts to tory donors that circulate our wealth between themselves. Pretty simple.

[Crimson Dynamo]

Moreso I think people are saying the system perhaps needs some changes, some people will abuse the money and spend it on drugs/alcohol rather than feeding their children/dependents. perhaps those with children’s allowance should receive vouchers to ensure their child does not go hungry as this cannot be spent on other things

good post DOuglass

[The Slim Reaper]

Moreso I think people are saying the system perhaps needs some changes, some people will abuse the money and spend it on drugs/alcohol rather than feeding their children/dependents. perhaps those with children’s allowance should receive vouchers to ensure their child does not go hungry as this cannot be spent on other things

Other than being the big scary monster, people use to justify cruelty towards the poor, what are the statistics about benefits being used for drugs rather than family support?

[Alf]

I think the job of any government is to provide the most basic of needs for it's population. Yes, I do want my taxes to pay for other peoples children, just like I want my taxes to pay for their healthcare too. What I don't want is my money being used to give out PPE contracts to tory donors that circulate our wealth between themselves. Pretty simple.You might want that, but other tax payers don't.

[Cherie]

There was an item on the London news about Bow food bank last week, they got 74,000 in cash donations afterwards, probably higher by now, where is all this money going? That's just one food bank!

Every time I pass/ donate food in the supermarket the box is bursting with food as well

Is this the same where you shop?

[Alf]

If I'm being told that there are Children in need of feeding, then I'm questioning what the charity "Children in need" is doing to help? Because that's what they're there for, to help children in need, it says so on the tin.

[The Slim Reaper]

You might want that, but other tax payers don't.

You would rather your tax contributions go to tory donors than hungry kids? Is this where we've arrived?

[Alf]

You would rather your tax contributions go to tory donors than hungry kids? Is this where we've arrived?Obviously not.

But like I keep saying, with charities like children in need, then kids shouldn't need to beg the government for food. You do know that Children in need is sitting on millions of pounds, I've seen them tweet saying that themselves.

[The Slim Reaper]

Obviously not.

But like I keep saying, with charities like children in need, then kids shouldn't need to beg the government for food. You do know that Children in need is sitting on millions of pounds, I've seen them tweet saying that themselves.

Charities and government are not the same or interchangeable. I have issues with CIN, I never give them a penny, but that doesn't absolve the gov of doing the bare minimum.

Poverty and child poverty numbers in this country are obscene, and it was so prior to covid.

[Alf]

Charities and government are not the same or interchangeable. I have issues with CIN, I never give them a penny, but that doesn't absolve the gov of doing the bare minimum.

Poverty and child poverty numbers in this country are obscene, and it was so prior to covid.Bucke up, because it's gonna get much worse. We've all seen this year the attempts to crash the economy.

China will be our masters in the near future.if they're not already.

[The Slim Reaper]

Bucke up, because it's gonna get much worse. We've all seen this year the attempts to crash the economy.

China will be our masters in the near future.

You make it sound like there's nothing that can be done, when that's just nonsense. It's a choice that we as a country keep endorsing because the absolute monstrosity of tory cruelty keeps being voted back in to do more damage. Unfortunately labour are also run by a tory, so there's not much hope of any alternative.

[Alf]

You make it sound like there's nothing that can be done, when that's just nonsense. It's a choice that we as a country keep endorsing because the absolute monstrosity of tory cruelty keeps being voted back in to do more damage. Unfortunately labour are also run by a tory, so there's not much hope of any alternative.Tories or Labour don't rule or run anything. The Politicians are just puppets, actors.

Until the people work out that they have the power, then nothing will change.

If you think you can put any one other than the chosen establishment into government, then you're just dreaming. Anyone who attempts to challenge them will be deplatformed, branded a bigot, a racist, a sexist. Anything to discredit them and to shut them down. Alternatively they might be called a looney leftie, Commie, whatever it takes to stop them.

Donald Trump was/is our only hope. But you've seen what lengths they'd go to to stop him.

[The Slim Reaper]

Tories or Labour don't rule or run anything. The Politicians are just puppets, actors.

Until the people work out that they have the power, then nothing will change.

If you think you can put any one other than the chosen establishment into government, then you're just dreaming. Anyone who attempts to challenge them will be deplatformed, branded a bigot, a racist, a sexist. Anything to discredit them and to shut them down. Alternatively they might be called a looney leftie, Commie, whatever it takes to stop them.

Donald Trump was/is our only hope. But you've seen what lengths they'd go to to stop him.

I mean you sort of hit on the problem, because that's what happened to Corbyn who had intentions to make society a fairer place, but then you present the (pretend) billionaire who used his office to enrich himself, his family, and other rich people, so...

[Alf]

I mean you sort of hit on the problem, because that's what happened to Corbyn who had intentions to make society a fairer place, but then you present the (pretend) billionaire who used his office to enrich himself, his family, and other rich people, so...Trump is the only one who has taken on the establishment, it's because he's not a politician. While I'm sure Corbyn means well, at the end of the day he is a career politician and he answers to the money people, Trump doesn't, he doesn't need too.

[The Slim Reaper]

Trump is the only one who has taken on the establishment, it's because he's not a politician. While I'm sure Corbyn means we'll, at the end of the day he is a career politician and he answers to the money people, Trump doesn't, he doesn't need too.

He didn't take on any establishment. A NY property developer is the epitome of establishment. His policies were always republican policies.

[Oliver_W]

Obviously not.

But like I keep saying, with charities like children in need, then kids shouldn't need to beg the government for food. You do know that Children in need is sitting on millions of pounds, I've seen them tweet saying that themselves.
When cuts are being made to welfare programs and support systems such as SureStart, the least the government can do is make sure kids have something to eat. Tbh all children should be entitled to free school meals, and this should be honoured when the schools are closed too. And sure, this could be in the form of vouchers, or some kind of food subscription service.

As for CiN, since 1980 its garnered about 1.5 billion. That's an average of about 37 million per year. With about 12 million children in the UK, that'd give them about three million to feed each child. But of course, as a charity they have to pay their admin staff! And the money doesn't just go to fedi g children, one charity it supports is one that campaigns against mothers being imprisoned. The money also gets squandered on crap like helping a girl sue her school because she didn't want to wear the uniform.

To expect a charity to pick up the slack of a neglectful government isn't the way to go.

[Alf]

He didn't take on any establishment. A NY property developer is the epitome of establishment. His policies were always republican policies.He told you right from the start and has been saying it ever since what his polices are, America first. He's for all America, and that's why he won easily and that's why we're gonna find out how big they tried cheating him.

[Alf]

When cuts are being made to welfare programs and support systems such as SureStart, the least the government can do is make sure kids have something to eat. Tbh all children should be entitled to free school meals, and this should be honoured when the schools are closed too. And sure, this could be in the form of vouchers, or some kind of food subscription service.

As for CiN, since 1980 its garnered about 1.5 billion. That's an average of about 37 million per year. With about 12 million children in the UK, that'd give them about three million to feed each child. But of course, as a charity they have to pay their admin staff! And the money doesn't just go to fedi g children, one charity it supports is one that campaigns against mothers being imprisoned. The money also gets squandered on crap like helping a girl sue her school because she didn't want to wear the uniform.

To expect a charity to pick up the slack of a neglectful government isn't the way to go.They're not picking up any stick, there are Children in need, there is a charity that helps children in need, use it.

[The Slim Reaper]

He told you right from the start and has been saying it ever since what his polices are, America first. He's for all America, and that's why he won easily and that's why we're gonna find out how big they tried cheating him.

Just like every republican. Him saying he was anti-establishment doesn't make it true. The only thing he was really different about, was sucking up to Putin, befriending dictators, and being as openly hostile to minorities. Everything else was exactly the same.

[Tom4784]

Rule Britannia! Britannia rules the waves! Greatest country in the world, innit? We don't need help, the world needs us, we don't need them!

[Tom4784]

You would rather your tax contributions go to tory donors than hungry kids? Is this where we've arrived?

As long as the Tories keep bleating on about immigrants, Tory voters don't care where tax goes. They've been cheering for tax money lining the pockets of the rich for years in the guise that the Tories will do something about immigrants.

A Trump supporter famously said that she was angry at Trump because he wasn't hurting the 'right people' (Read: Non-white people) and I think that attitude applies to the Tory supporters. They don't care if supporting the Tories hurts them, just as long as the Tories demonise immigrants and appeals to their hatred, it's all fine and dandy.

[arista]

How is it good that the 6th richest economy in the world needs a charity to feed children?

It’s shameful


https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e0/New_Labour_new_Britain_logo.png/220px-New_Labour_new_Britain_logo.png


Sure Blame New Labour 1997-2010
they could have set it up.


[UNICEF
Formation 11 December 1946; 74 years]

[The Slim Reaper]

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e0/New_Labour_new_Britain_logo.png/220px-New_Labour_new_Britain_logo.png


Sure Blame New Labour 1997-2010
they could have set it up.


[UNICEF
Formation 11 December 1946; 74 years]

I don't get the reference, Arista. what are you saying?

[arista]

I don't get the reference, Arista. what are you saying?


Blair could have set up help
to go forever

[Tom4784]

Blair could have set up help
to go forever

So you're blaming someone who hasn't been in power for over a decade but none of the three Tory PMs we've had since then?

[arista]

So you're blaming someone who hasn't been in power for over a decade but none of the three Tory PMs we've had since then?


I am blaming all
But mostly Blair's New Labour

[Tom4784]

No, you're not blaming all, you're pretending to in order to place the blame on a government who has been out of power for over a decade.

The Tories have been making life difficult for the working class and impoverished since they regained power. Benefits meant to help people are used as weapons in the Universal Credit scheme and the Tories see fit to have people reliant on food banks and charity instead of fulfilling their role as a government and sorting out the issue themselves and you have a bunch of tory sheep praising them by saying it's not the government's problem when it very much is because a government is meant to tackle issues that plague the populace.

[arista]

No, you're not blaming all, you're pretending to in order to place the blame on a government who has been out of power for over a decade.

The Tories have been making life difficult for the working class and impoverished since they regained power. Benefits meant to help people are used as weapons in the Universal Credit scheme and the Tories see fit to have people reliant on food banks and charity instead of fulfilling their role as a government and sorting out the issue themselves and you have a bunch of tory sheep praising them by saying it's not the government's problem when it very much is because a government is meant to tackle issues that plague the populace.


It's All Blairs Fault
he left it in, the sloppy hands of G. Brown

[Tom4784]

We weren't relying on Unicef before the current Tory reign. This is an issue born out of the administrations that have been running the show for the past ten years.

You can pretend otherwise but all you're doing is defending people who don't give a **** about you.

[arista]

We weren't relying on Unicef before the current Tory reign. This is an issue born out of the administrations that have been running the show for the past ten years.

You can pretend otherwise but all you're doing is defending people who don't give a **** about you.


But in Blair's long time in Power
he could have set it all up
to run, forever.

[Tom4784]

Why not the Tories who have been running the show for a decade who created this problem in the first place? More people are reliant on food banks than ever before and that's not something that began before the Tories took charge.

The cognitive dissonance of tory supporters is just bizarre.

[Zizu]

Not really, anyone with a mortgage has more debt than someone living in social housing, but they obviously have more wealth.


That’s an interesting one ...

Who’s the wealthiest ... a homeless guy with zero debts or the guy with a big house buy mortgaged to the hilt and untold debts ....


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[The Slim Reaper]

That’s an interesting one ...

Who’s the wealthiest ... a homeless guy with zero debts or the guy with a big house buy mortgaged to the hilt and untold debts ....


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The guy with the house.

[Zizu]

Moreso I think people are saying the system perhaps needs some changes, some people will abuse the money and spend it on drugs/alcohol rather than feeding their children/dependents. perhaps those with children’s allowance should receive vouchers to ensure their child does not go hungry as this cannot be spent on other things



Maybe a complete overhaul?

Reduce family allowance so it covers clothes and whatever but then schools provide each child with breakfast , dinner and a meal at the end of the school day ?
The schools have the setup all ready and waiting ..


That way all the kids get three decent meals per day and we may see more pupils attending school.




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[The Slim Reaper]

Just to expand, the homeless guy starts every day in debt just in order to eat, the guy with the big house doesn't.

[Zizu]

They're not picking up any stick, there are Children in need, there is a charity that helps children in need, use it.



I always got the impression that Children in Need helped children ABROAD mainly ??

Is there a record of where all their money goes , I wonder ?


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[The Slim Reaper]

Maybe a complete overhaul?

Reduce family allowance so it covers clothes and whatever but then schools provide each child with breakfast , dinner and a meal at the end of the school day ?
The schools have the setup all ready and waiting ..


That way all the kids get three decent meals per day and we may see more pupils attending school.




Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro


Why should the poorest in society be made even poorer? No one is as maligned as poor people in need of help. We have this purely fictional standard that we can't even give a few extra pennies unless we can take it away somewhere else. Governments give billions to their friends, and no one says anything, but want a kid to get a free meal then we have to make sure they've earned it and can be trusted not to blow it all on scag. It's inhumane.

[Zizu]

The guy with the house.



But it’s not his ... it’s owned by the bank ..


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[The Slim Reaper]

But it’s not his ... it’s owned by the bank ..


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So presumably if he wants to sell it, he won't be allowed?

[Zizu]

Why should the poorest in society be made even poorer? No one is as maligned as poor people in need of help. We have this purely fictional standard that we can't even give a few extra pennies unless we can take it away somewhere else. Governments give billions to their friends, and no one says anything, but want a kid to get a free meal then we have to make sure they've earned it and can be trusted not to blow it all on scag. It's inhumane.



I’m not suggesting making people poorer just reduce the allowance ( the part for the kid’s food) and give it to schools who then ENSURE that every child gets three meals a day .. three ‘healthy’ meals as well .


Seems like an improvement if thousands of kids are going hungry every day.


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[Zizu]

So presumably if he wants to sell it, he won't be allowed?



If he’s morgaged it to the max and has other debts ( credit cards most likely) then he COULD sell the house but the money would go to the bank not him ..


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[Marsh.]

Obviously not.

But like I keep saying, with charities like children in need, then kids shouldn't need to beg the government for food. You do know that Children in need is sitting on millions of pounds, I've seen them tweet saying that themselves.

I think you'll find it's the other way around.

Government should be feeding the kids. Kids shouldn't have to rely on charity.

[The Slim Reaper]

I’m not suggesting making people poorer just reduce the allowance ( the part for the kid’s food) and give it to schools who then ENSURE that every child gets three meals a day .. three ‘healthy’ meals as well .


Seems like an improvement if thousands of kids are going hungry every day.


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You're taking away money from the very poorest, so how will that not make them poorer? I'm pretty sure that they don't have cash reserves they can dip into if they're a bit short one week. Their only options are debt (which they will struggle to pay back), or go without, which brings us back to why are we making the poorest people poorer?

[The Slim Reaper]

If he’s morgaged it to the max and has other debts ( credit cards most likely) then he COULD sell the house but the money would go to the bank not him ..


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That's how loans work until they're paid off. A house is an asset, which is part of building up wealth.

[Zizu]

You're taking away money from the very poorest, so how will that not make them poorer? I'm pretty sure that they don't have cash reserves they can dip into if they're a bit short one week. Their only options are debt (which they will struggle to pay back), or go without, which brings us back to why are we making the poorest people poorer?



It’s money to feed their kids but in my suggestion the schools would be doing that .. robbing Peter to pay Paul ..

I said it was a big change ..



Maybe a compromise.. schools offer every child breakfast and lunch ..


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[Zizu]

That's how loans work until they're paid off. A house is an asset, which is part of building up wealth.



There are many who owe more than the houses are worth though plus they will probably have other loans / debts


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[The Slim Reaper]

It’s money to feed their kids but in my suggestion the schools would be doing that .. robbing Peter to pay Paul ..

I said it was a big change ..



Maybe a compromise.. schools offer every child breakfast and lunch ..


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Yeah, I didn't mean you were being cruel, it's just always an accepted standard for poor people. They always have to prove they've earned something or can be trusted in a way we never ask of the powerful. We have the money, we are just manipulated a a society to believe a) that we don't and b) we should spend it on the things that align with the government.

[The Slim Reaper]

There are many who owe more than the houses are worth though plus they will probably have other loans / debts


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I think you have to remember that making debt repayments is still in a different stratosphere to sleeping in a cardboard box.

[Oliver_W]

I always got the impression that Children in Need helped children ABROAD mainly ??

Is there a record of where all their money goes , I wonder ?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro
Nah CiN is for kids in the UK, Comic Relief is the abroad one I think. If you really want to know I'm sure it's all googleable.

That’s an interesting one ...

Who’s the wealthiest ... a homeless guy with zero debts or the guy with a big house buy mortgaged to the hilt and untold debts ....


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro
That's like saying a homeless white man has more privilege than a rich black woman. Obviously the person with the house is wealthier.

[Vicky.]

Its hugely **** that they have to really. We are a rich country in the grand scheme of things, that UK kids are going without food actually breaks my heart. Our local foodbank is desperate for help as soo many families are having to use it recently..

[Ammi]

...I’m not sure that I agree that eating all meals at their schools would be beneficial to a child...family meals together are a very important thing...and very valued at the end of a school/work day by parents and children...

[Vicky.]

I have time for people that find themselves in genuine need but there are plenty that use food banks so they can spend their benefits on drink drugs and fags.

They have to have a referral though, from jobcentre, or social or something like that. Its not just a shop they rock up at and get free stuff, thus freeing money for other things.

Also, you can only get a couple of referrals per year apparently.

So the amount of people using foodbanks as free shopping to buy more alcohol and stuff, is minuscule if anything. And they cannot do it repeatedly anyway..

[Zizu]

Yeah, I didn't mean you were being cruel, it's just always an accepted standard for poor people. They always have to prove they've earned something or can be trusted in a way we never ask of the powerful. We have the money, we are just manipulated a a society to believe a) that we don't and b) we should spend it on the things that align with the government.



True enough...


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[Zizu]

I think you have to remember that making debt repayments is still in a different stratosphere to sleeping in a cardboard box.



Also very true :)


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[Zizu]

...I’m not sure that I agree that eating all meals at their schools would be beneficial to a child...family meals together are a very important thing...and very valued at the end of a school/work day by parents and children...



Oh yea . I wholeheartedly agree but sadly we are seeing so many kids that are just not getting fed enough in the current system


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[Zizu]

They have to have a referral though, from jobcentre, or social or something like that. Its not just a shop they rock up at and get free stuff, thus freeing money for other things.



Also, you can only get a couple of referrals per year apparently.



So the amount of people using foodbanks as free shopping to buy more alcohol and stuff, is minuscule if anything. And they cannot do it repeatedly anyway..



Interesting ... I presumed people just walked in a queued up as and when they pleased ..


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[Marsh.]

That's like saying a homeless white man has more privilege than a rich black woman. Obviously the person with the house is wealthier.

Nice use of the word "privilege" to be purely about money to sit aside your agenda-driven use of race in this scenario.

[Vicky.]

Interesting ... I presumed people just walked in a queued up as and when they pleased ..


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Nah, thats a common misconception, pushed by the right wing press generally.

Some people might take the piss 2/3 weeks a year and spend their benefits on booze or whatever, but it is not a thing that can be ongoing, at all. So many do think they can just turn up and get it as often as possible so there simply must be many parents using their benefit on booze, when in reality, people have to jump through hoops to get a food bank voucher, and theres safeguards in place to ensure pisstaking cannot happen also. Fairly decent system really, the chance of fraud is quite tiny.

[Crimson Dynamo]

Nah, thats a common misconception, pushed by the right wing press generally.

Some people might take the piss 2/3 weeks a year and spend their benefits on booze or whatever, but it is not a thing that can be ongoing, at all. So many do think they can just turn up and get it as often as possible so there simply must be many parents using their benefit on booze, when in reality, people have to jump through hoops to get a food bank voucher, and theres safeguards in place to ensure pisstaking cannot happen also. Fairly decent system really, the chance of fraud is quite tiny.

do you have links to back this up?

[Cherie]

Nah, thats a common misconception, pushed by the right wing press generally.

Some people might take the piss 2/3 weeks a year and spend their benefits on booze or whatever, but it is not a thing that can be ongoing, at all. So many do think they can just turn up and get it as often as possible so there simply must be many parents using their benefit on booze, when in reality, people have to jump through hoops to get a food bank voucher, and theres safeguards in place to ensure pisstaking cannot happen also. Fairly decent system really, the chance of fraud is quite tiny.

We have a food bank advertise on our neighbour app, no vouchers or referral required, just turn up, it was really surprising to see that as it has to be open to abuse, they only advertised once, they are probably over run

[Vicky.]

To get access to a food bank, you need a food bank voucher from a professional or organisation working with the foodbank. This might be a health or social care worker (GP, nurses, social worker etc.) or local charity such as Citizens Advice.

https://www.turn2us.org.uk/About-Us/News/More-people-than-ever-are-using-foodbanks

To receive an emergency food parcel from the Trussell Trust you have to have a food voucher issued by a doctor or social worker or someone similar. People working in Jobcentres can signpost people to a Trussell Trust food bank but they can’t make a direct referral (although the Trussell Trust told us this isn’t quite the case in practice).

https://fullfact.org/economy/why-are-more-people-using-food-banks/

Am wondering if the twice a year thing is just our local one..I only knew about that as a friend was having universal credit delays (delays wet on nearly 4 months, and you can apparently only get one advance payment, so a months worth of the bare minimum needed to live on, spread out over 4 months) and could only get the 2 and was told thats the limit. Happy to retract that bit as that might be a local thing rather than universal. However. if you need referals from professionals, fairly sure they are not just giving the vouchers out willynilly to people who reek of booze and turn up every monday:laugh: Its definitely not as easy as so many think it is.

Cherie, it appears yours is breaking the usual rules, and for what reason I have no clue as obviously if its just used by all, with no safeguarding at all there will be huge amounts of abuse, which is why they did it where you need referals to begin with. I wonder if that was maybe some private independant company trying to help out poorer people, sort of like those cafes that will give free food to those who need it..either way, advertising once and thats it kind of says it went under quite quickly, which it would if just being basically a supermarket that people can go to and use when they wish but not pay! Do you have a link by any chance to the one you are talking about? I find it totally bizarre that any foodbank would do that and would be intersted in seeing how long they have been open and stats too would be intersting..assuming they keep them of course


I should maybe ammend what I said to..there are strict rules for trussel trust foodbanks, which are the 'official' ones, but smaller ones might exist that do not have such rules, but they would not stay open long with no restrictons in place D: And no, thats not (only/mainly) because of feckless parents boozing away their child benefit, but because if the chance is there, many would take it. Like, assuming an independant one is just like a supermarket..even those in work, or very rich would be tempted to just go there, fill up and save money. For example, some middle class people saving for a mortgage/holiday would do this if it was possible, as they would save quicker..the potential for abuse is endless.

Totally bonkers if some exist who literally just let people go endlessly and get whatever they want.

Another thing my friend found, was that she did not get to chose any of the stuff she got. That makes sense to me, they make up parcels that contain enough to live on temporarily and thats that. But so many around here were shocked, as they thought a foodbank was basically a free tesco.

I got a bunch of advent calanders for one near here a few weeks back. Don't generally do anything like that but the advert was on about how some kids wont even have a calender, will get nowt for xmas, and so on and it made me feel awful..and lucky. We are quite skint but, loaded compared to some. Cannot imagine not having enough money to feed my kids..am so lucky that the few times pay has messed up, I have family who can help me. Too many don't.

I was whinged at by a 'friend' for buying advent calendars. As chocolate is not a necessity and I should have given tins of beans or something :umm2: I know its not a necessity, but the kids are still normal kids, just in hard times. I found it quite awful that they thought no treats should ever be allowed to be given. Hardly the childs fault they are in this situation.

I dread to think what it will be like next year, when all the job losses hit.

[Vicky.]

This thread made me think actually about who uses foodbanks.

And apparently 'more than half' of users are disabled (or were in November 2018, which is unlikely to have changed much)..which is rather bloody depressing.

“More than half of food bank users are disabled people or those with a long-term health condition. The initiatives by Trussell Trust shows that society is reaching out to them but they must wonder why there is a government denying them adequate social protection.”

https://www.disabilityrightsuk.org/news/2018/november/food-bank-use-increases-thirteen-cent

Plus seemingly the most common reason for needing one is the ridiculous 6 week wait for universal credit. Which has been purposely built that way for some reason. Surely there could be different way to do it, especially when loads of 'hardworking people' will be claiming now, or soon.

(Slightly offtopic but - Thats interesting too actually, so many I know who used to scream about universal credit being way too high, people can apparently live luxury lifestyles, should be for bare essentals, not even a little for anything thats not essential, etc etc..are now up in arms as its too low to live on apparently, now that they are the ones having to claim..)

[Kizzy]

I said the same to Marcus Rashford.

While what he was trying to achieve was very noble of him, he was asking the wrong people for the funding. It's not the governments job to pay for people's children. However, there is a charity that raises millions every year, actually called "Children in need" I told Rashford, by tweet, to pester them, it makes far more sense.
That makes no sense ... you say don't use money from the public purse and yet you advocate using charities which are funded by donations from the public.

It would make sense to have a living wage to replace the minimum wage and welfare payments that actually support families.

[Tom4784]

Charities are only needed when a government fails to provide for it's people. We shouldn't be championing relying on them when the government is failing to do right by the poor and vulnerable.

[Ammi]

Oh yea . I wholeheartedly agree but sadly we are seeing so many kids that are just not getting fed enough in the current system


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

...breakfast clubs and providing breakfast boxes etc for children is something that is already being done in many schools, Zizu...which was also pre-pandemic...I don’t know if you have anything similar at your own school...and those are funded in various different ways, locally...but I’m not sure if a school involvement is an ideal either, rather than providing in the home because a child in poverty and need of food etc, would indicate a parent/parents in poverty as well, the whole family, obviously...

...and because of the extraordinary times that we’re living in atm, rising poverty is looking at being a long term thing, we can’t fathom at all atm how the impact is going to unfold...UNICEF are projecting at least 5 years for wealthier countries such as the U.K...for poor countries, I can’t even imagine...

[Ammi]

...when a child goes to school hungry as well, it shouldn’t be assumed any ‘parent misuse of their budget’ or whatever because I would imagine that being the case to be quite rare...(...in my own experience as well...)...a parent(parents) can be struggling themselves for many reasons and a whole family needs help and support...which is very difficult to get for them with the resources we have atm...even in pandemic times of much need, resources still being kept minimum...

[joeysteele]

This thread made me think actually about who uses foodbanks.

And apparently 'more than half' of users are disabled (or were in November 2018, which is unlikely to have changed much)..which is rather bloody depressing.

“More than half of food bank users are disabled people or those with a long-term health condition. The initiatives by Trussell Trust shows that society is reaching out to them but they must wonder why there is a government denying them adequate social protection.”

https://www.disabilityrightsuk.org/news/2018/november/food-bank-use-increases-thirteen-cent

Plus seemingly the most common reason for needing one is the ridiculous 6 week wait for universal credit. Which has been purposely built that way for some reason. Surely there could be different way to do it, especially when loads of 'hardworking people' will be claiming now, or soon.

(Slightly offtopic but - Thats interesting too actually, so many I know who used to scream about universal credit being way too high, people can apparently live luxury lifestyles, should be for bare essentals, not even a little for anything thats not essential, etc etc..are now up in arms as its too low to live on apparently, now that they are the ones having to claim..)



I have to say.
Your posts on food banks is spot on.

Over the years on here, I've commented many times on them.

Reading your posts has been a breath of fresh air as to them and their usual set up procedures of use too.

You've said it all.

The post above is really strong too.
Because many disabled have had reduced income when losing disability allowance when needing to claim PIP.

The extra hardship caused there until they go through months or more of fighting in a court to get that restored when removed wrongly by these so called health care assistants, who are only looking at reducing the numbers on PIP, not ensuring people get their full entitlements at all.


The fact UNICEF now feel they have to be involved in this Country, is and should be worrying.
In my view it is anyway.

[Cherie]

https://www.turn2us.org.uk/About-Us/News/More-people-than-ever-are-using-foodbanks



https://fullfact.org/economy/why-are-more-people-using-food-banks/

Am wondering if the twice a year thing is just our local one..I only knew about that as a friend was having universal credit delays (delays wet on nearly 4 months, and you can apparently only get one advance payment, so a months worth of the bare minimum needed to live on, spread out over 4 months) and could only get the 2 and was told thats the limit. Happy to retract that bit as that might be a local thing rather than universal. However. if you need referals from professionals, fairly sure they are not just giving the vouchers out willynilly to people who reek of booze and turn up every monday:laugh: Its definitely not as easy as so many think it is.

Cherie, it appears yours is breaking the usual rules, and for what reason I have no clue as obviously if its just used by all, with no safeguarding at all there will be huge amounts of abuse, which is why they did it where you need referals to begin with. I wonder if that was maybe some private independant company trying to help out poorer people, sort of like those cafes that will give free food to those who need it..either way, advertising once and thats it kind of says it went under quite quickly, which it would if just being basically a supermarket that people can go to and use when they wish but not pay! Do you have a link by any chance to the one you are talking about? I find it totally bizarre that any foodbank would do that and would be intersted in seeing how long they have been open and stats too would be intersting..assuming they keep them of course


I should maybe ammend what I said to..there are strict rules for trussel trust foodbanks, which are the 'official' ones, but smaller ones might exist that do not have such rules, but they would not stay open long with no restrictons in place D: And no, thats not (only/mainly) because of feckless parents boozing away their child benefit, but because if the chance is there, many would take it. Like, assuming an independant one is just like a supermarket..even those in work, or very rich would be tempted to just go there, fill up and save money. For example, some middle class people saving for a mortgage/holiday would do this if it was possible, as they would save quicker..the potential for abuse is endless.

Totally bonkers if some exist who literally just let people go endlessly and get whatever they want.

Another thing my friend found, was that she did not get to chose any of the stuff she got. That makes sense to me, they make up parcels that contain enough to live on temporarily and thats that. But so many around here were shocked, as they thought a foodbank was basically a free tesco.

I got a bunch of advent calanders for one near here a few weeks back. Don't generally do anything like that but the advert was on about how some kids wont even have a calender, will get nowt for xmas, and so on and it made me feel awful..and lucky. We are quite skint but, loaded compared to some. Cannot imagine not having enough money to feed my kids..am so lucky that the few times pay has messed up, I have family who can help me. Too many don't.

I was whinged at by a 'friend' for buying advent calendars. As chocolate is not a necessity and I should have given tins of beans or something :umm2: I know its not a necessity, but the kids are still normal kids, just in hard times. I found it quite awful that they thought no treats should ever be allowed to be given. Hardly the childs fault they are in this situation.

I dread to think what it will be like next year, when all the job losses hit.


I have gone back into the app to see if I could find the advert, it may have been removed as it could have been a scam or worse,I was surprised to see a 'just turn up' advice, if I find it I will screen shot it

[Mystic Mock]

https://twitter.com/skynews/status/1339134511611863040?s=21

Shocking

With this Government nothing shocks me anymore.

[Mystic Mock]

I said the same to Marcus Rashford.

While what he was trying to achieve was very noble of him, he was asking the wrong people for the funding. It's not the governments job to pay for people's children. However, there is a charity that raises millions every year, actually called "Children in need" I told Rashford, by tweet, to pester them, it makes far more sense.

No it is up to the Government to help the people, otherwise what is the point in electing them?

[Mystic Mock]

You might want that, but other tax payers don't.

I think you'll find that most people in this country would rather pay to help out starving children than making MP's richer.

[Mystic Mock]

It's All Blairs Fault
he left it in, the sloppy hands of G. Brown

No it really isn't.

[Zizu]

...breakfast clubs and providing breakfast boxes etc for children is something that is already being done in many schools, Zizu...which was also pre-pandemic...I don’t know if you have anything similar at your own school...and those are funded in various different ways, locally...but I’m not sure if a school involvement is an ideal either, rather than providing in the home because a child in poverty and need of food etc, would indicate a parent/parents in poverty as well, the whole family, obviously...

...and because of the extraordinary times that we’re living in atm, rising poverty is looking at being a long term thing, we can’t fathom at all atm how the impact is going to unfold...UNICEF are projecting at least 5 years for wealthier countries such as the U.K...for poor countries, I can’t even imagine...



Yeah I realise some schools offer breakfast clubs etc. .. I was proposing it for all schools and free meals for all kids ..

Just thinking out of the box as the current system clearly isn’t working


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

[The Slim Reaper]

JRM cutting through the noise to highlight that unicef are the villains, not the cruel tories.

1339541300446715904

[Scarlett.]

Go **** yourself, Rees-Mogg

[Oliver_W]

JRM cutting through the noise to highlight that unicef are the villains, not the cruel tories.

1339541300446715904

wtf is wrong with him?

Even if doing what they're doing is a political stunt, it doesn't take away from the good deed, a deed which shouldn't be required anyway.

[Cherie]

He is such a weirdo

[Captain.Remy]

Are the boxes vegan and contain almond milk though?

[Captain.Remy]

But yeah this is incredibly sad and depressing.

[The Slim Reaper]

wtf is wrong with him?

Even if doing what they're doing is a political stunt, it doesn't take away from the good deed, a deed which shouldn't be required anyway.

Unicef aren't political, so it's not a political stunt. This man pays zero corporation tax because he hides his profits in offshore accounts. It makes it harder for him to avoid scrutiny if we need organisations to come in and help us out like we're a 3rd world country, so it's important he downplays the need.

[DouglasS]

We weren't relying on Unicef before the current Tory reign. This is an issue born out of the administrations that have been running the show for the past ten years.

You can pretend otherwise but all you're doing is defending people who don't give a **** about you.

Yes because the COVID pandemic is the Tories fault... they should have predicted an outbreak caused in China... the entire world has suffered huge economic shortfalls, and the economy has suffered almost everywhere

[The Slim Reaper]

Yes because the COVID pandemic is the Tories fault... they should have predicted an outbreak caused in China... the entire world has suffered huge economic shortfalls, and the economy has suffered almost everywhere

From 2018-19. Covid didn't cause a child poverty explosion in this country, the tories did with austerity. Covid has just made it worse. Tories decimated programs for children and the poor when they got in to power.

https://cpag.org.uk/child-poverty/child-poverty-facts-and-figures

There were 4.2 million children living in poverty in the UK in 2018-19. That's 30 per cent of children, or nine in a classroom of 30.1
44 per cent of children living in lone-parent families are in poverty.2 Lone parents face a higher risk of poverty due to the lack of an additional earner, low rates of maintenance payments, gender inequality in employment and pay, and childcare costs.
Children from black and minority ethnic groups are more likely to be in poverty: 46 per cent are now in poverty, compared with 26 per cent of children in White British families.3
Work does not provide a guaranteed route out of poverty in the UK. 72 per cent of children growing up in poverty live in a household where at least one person works.4
Children in large families are at a far greater risk of living in poverty – 43 per cent of children living in families with 3 or more children live in poverty.5
Childcare and housing are two of the costs that take the biggest toll on families’ budgets.
Between 1998 and 2003 reducing child poverty was made a priority - with a comprehensive strategy and investment in children - and the number of children in poverty fell by 600,000.6
Removing the two-child limit and the benefit cap would lift 100,000s of children out of poverty.7
Increasing child benefit would substantially reduce child poverty as well as providing support to all families with the extra costs children bring.

[Ammi]

Yeah I realise some schools offer breakfast clubs etc. .. I was proposing it for all schools and free meals for all kids ..

Just thinking out of the box as the current system clearly isn’t working


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

....free school meals for all children...(...I’m not sure if that was just Primary level, though...)...was something that was discussed at the beginning of the year, Zizu...maybe around January/February...and then along came COVID, obviously...so no more speak of it...ironically, when it’s now needed most as well, eh...

[Tom4784]

Yes because the COVID pandemic is the Tories fault... they should have predicted an outbreak caused in China... the entire world has suffered huge economic shortfalls, and the economy has suffered almost everywhere

Yeah, because more people relying on food banks to feed themselves is a new phenomenon and not a stat that's been increasing steadily for the past few years. People have only been struggling to survive on Universal Credit because of Covid, not because UC in itself is vicious by design, tory design.

Stop defending the people who have their foot on the necks of the poor and vulnerable. You are only a few bad days away from being one of them.

[Kizzy]

Yes because the COVID pandemic is the Tories fault... they should have predicted an outbreak caused in China... the entire world has suffered huge economic shortfalls, and the economy has suffered almost everywhere

It isn't unicefs fault either... so why is ghoul mogg not praising the charity for its help and support at this time if global need?

[Nicky91]

well in my country they are raising money now too

one radio channel 538 is doing that for food banks, for the poor and vulnerable

and another 3FM has revived a corona-proof version of Serious Request tomorrow, one week before christmas, where 3 dj's lock themselves up in a glass house, now from a military airbase not to attract too many people around the building, but that most people can watch on tv or listen via radio and request what songs they want to hear in exchange for money, raising that to fight coronavirus, extra research, and to buy more medical equipment for frontline workers

[arista]

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EpmSIYQXUAAfhTU?format=jpg&name=small

[GoldHeart]

It just shows how bad poverty is in the UK for this to be happening, it's weird to think this country is affected soo badly by it . But this is a very real issue .