What are your views on food banks and warm banks?

One of our local groups is opening a "pay-as-you-feel" cafe, once a week, in our local Town Hall, from October. This is designed to offer a warm, safe, affordable environment. I do think it's a good idea as I worry that some people may go into a form of self-lockdown in order to try and save money.

I can see the problems, but then charity has never solved them, has it. You need a society that cares and a government that makes that care work. It has to happen if that is all people can do though.

Someone I knew was involved in the Church soup and cake clubs that offer, well soup and cake (!) one day a week. She said they were put on so people could go and eat something and keep warm, but it was done in a discrete way so people didn't feel stigmatised. The clubs moved to different churches on different days.

Good comments DaisyAnne and Jane Judge
Yes, there is a place for warm welcoming places and for food banks Lizzydrip and other European countries have them too.Anything which helps and is accessible for those who need it is always a good thing in my view.

I agree with LizzieDrip

There’s a huge dichotomy here isn’t there. On the face of it yes, as you say Prentice, anything that helps those in need is a good thing. However, food banks (and possibly warm spaces) have now become embedded in our society in such a way that they actually detract from the real problem. That problem is that many people simply do not have enough money to live. The author of the article works for the Trussell Trust and poverty action groups - I think he articulates the issue very effectively.

I do know what you mean Lizzydrip and the author too, but unless we reach a position where all, literally all ,are in a good enough state not to need any intervention, then it will always be needed.There are always those who slip through the cracks in any society and an easy to access charity has to be there.

I suppose there have always been placed where people could go to keep warm. Libraries and other public buildings or even just staying on the bus all day. Churches have always had lunch clubs and social groups. Calling them warm banks is a rebranding rather than an innovation.

Charities (thousands upon thousands of them) exist because we live in a caring society and people want to do things to help others. People who contribute to charities, either buy donations or with their time and effort, are the same people who pay taxes to fund school, hospitals, roads, etc, etc.

I'm not sure I'm ready to accept that charities never solve anything. Take, for example, Cancer Research UK. Their push for research into the causes of and new treatments for various cancers have solved a lot of problems so that, for many cancers, people are more likely to die with cancer than of it.

The trouble is it just seem to get, eventually, accepted as normal. First people need food banks. Then they need places to eat and keep warm. It’s like the way the country has been for years. Just as you don’t think things can get any worse they do. And then do again. What happened to getting people off the streets and into hostels which happened at the start of covid? It now just seems acceptable again for people to sleep in cardboard boxes. Unacceptable things are constantly being normalised.

Charities certainly have their place in any society, but for a society to ensure that there is a comprehensive safety net for the disabled, sick, pensioners and unemployed it needs to employ the full force of society in the form of the state.

Wasn’t it Cameron that said people needed to rely on charities. So, yet again, we were warned about where the politics of this country was heading.

I understand your points, LizzieDrip but, however caring a society, there will always be a need for charities to exist and people will always want to give to others in need by helping, fundraising or simply donating money.

Whether the need for charities to provide basic necessities such as food and warmth, hospice care, sea rescues, is right in a so-called civilised society is debatable.

I do worry that fairly soon the food banks may not be receiving the number of goods they have in the past because of the meteoric cost of living for all of us. Those that donated freely in the past may still donate but not so much.

Words fail me when people are told to visit libraries for warmth. Some, like mine, are open very part-time and certainly not 24/7.

I despair that such things as food banks have been normalised. If the government provided sufficient help for the less well off, food banks wouldn’t be needed. But the government now sees thousands of us giving food and money to charity so they don’t need to. In addition, this sort of thing is happening with the environment too. Rivers, for example, are becoming filthy but rather than people being paid to clear up the mess, there are now any number of volunteers willing to do the hard work for free. This country is becoming a grave disappointment. The rich get richer and the poor get poorer. I believe a lot of our problems date back to Brexit. Whether we voted for it or not (I didn’t) the aftermath has been handled badly. Not just the economy but the way anyone from outside the UK is treated. We seem to be back in the xenophobic and uncaring 1950s.

There were stories a few years ago about people over 60 (or is it 65?) using their bus passes to keep warm on the bus throughout the day.

I do agree there shouldn't be a need for food or warm banks. I just don't know what to suggest as people need them and we are in a situation where we are becoming more and more like America and it's frightening.

Can I say something though, re the disabled. My adult daughter has a severe disability and is never short of food as her benefits cover the costs of her very ordinary and not in anyway flash lifestyle. I think people who are accessing these food banks are actually people on very low wages aren't they?

Exactly Ladyleftfieldlover. The normalisation of food banks etc just lets the government off the hook. Well-meaning volunteers are taking on the role of the state. Outrageous! We’re not living in Victorian times - although it often feels like it.

i agree with LizzieDrip 100%

Yes JaneJudge. Many people who use food banks do so because they are in low paid jobs - often working 2 jobs to try and make ends meet. But, with few workers rights, they’re at the mercy of unscrupulous employers (0 hours contracts, no sick pay etc). Indeed, people in such jobs may be worse off than those on (some) benefits.

Regarding volunteers taking on the role of the state, it is something I am very concerned about too. Expecting volunteers to deal with complex issues that require specialist input just isn't acceptable. Befriending schemes are being asked to provide respite and specialist support to families who have disabled children for example. Women volunteering for women's groups are being asked to provide counselling and support for women on witness protection schemes. I just don't feel it is acceptable.

Charleygirl5

I do worry that fairly soon the food banks may not be receiving the number of goods they have in the past because of the meteoric cost of living for all of us. Those that donated freely in the past may still donate but not so much.

Words fail me when people are told to visit libraries for warmth. Some, like mine, are open very part-time and certainly not 24/7.

And many libraries have been closed down.

Of course food banks, family support etc should not be necessary in a country like UK. Until things improve though they are providing a very valuable service. The danger lies I suppose in seeing this as the norm.

Charleygirl5

I do worry that fairly soon the food banks may not be receiving the number of goods they have in the past because of the meteoric cost of living for all of us. Those that donated freely in the past may still donate but not so much.

Words fail me when people are told to visit libraries for warmth. Some, like mine, are open very part-time and certainly not 24/7.

It's Harvest Festival time for schools and churches.

Instead of the usual marrows, tomatoes, runner beans, five barley loaves etc, schools now collect food for the local food bank.

I've just staggered home with tins of fruit etc.