This is utterly shameful

Rosecarmel my son lives in the US, in the Mid-West, and he says there’s been a massive upswing in people shoplifting foodstuffs, because they literally have no food in their homes and their children are going hungry.

It’s shocking that two of the wealthiest nations in the world are allowing charity and crime to be the only means by which some people can feed themselves.

Whitewavemark2

Ask yourselves. Has UNICEF given to France, or Spain it Italy or Germany or even the USA where poverty is so dreadful.

Then ask yourself why. The only possible conclusion is the policies of the Tory party.

I'm not sure about some of the countries you mention but here in France charities are not so prevalent because the French expect their govt to deal with poverty and other problems at home.

They do have a "telethon" each year which is a fund raiser and at this time a year one weekend is given over to collecting food and other items for Resto au Coeur, which donates food to the homeless and poor. The number of charities is growing, a lot of them started by the English who do a lot of voluntary work here.

One holiday, several years ago, I was surprised to see a stall in Piacenza with information about and collecting for an animal charity.

No doubt I shall be shot down in flames but - I never give money to the British Legion because I think that our soldiers etc, should be provided for by the state, not have to rely upon the generosity of the people. The forces do the state's bidding and should be cared for by the state.

That's really sad to read Doodledog. You would have thought it would have given some people a little insight to what it's like.

The overall situation is beyond shameful- The negligent handling of this pandemic by global government is a crime against humanity and no less-

Gratitude can no longer be a stand alone practice- Expressing what all people deserve must be attached to it- People of the world have lived in the timid humility of poverty for too long-

Congress is about to pass another package that will once again provide those that have "have" with more and those that "have not" with even less-

It's a disgusting act on their part and need to be called out for it-

lemongrove

It’s not shocking at all.Read about it properly, not just comments by grans on here.
It’s a grant by UNICEF UK, because they say it’s the worse thing (Covid) to hit us since World War 2.Other European countries may follow with these donations from UNICEF, have to wait and see.The grants are small beer in themselves
But are being added to what other groups are doing.
There are many reasons that children don’t get enough to eat, and not all linked to poverty, as one in five who are already getting food help/ breakfast boxes are not eligible for free school meals.What UNICEF is doing ( giving a grant ) is very good as it wants to pitch in nationally with other charities.
Charity does begin at home, and they have realised this.

And this all makes it okay?!

This is horrible.

I send money to unicef every month. I never imagined that part of it would be used for British children!

that should read 'the payments to those relying on Universal Credit'

It was predicted months ago that many families will be forced to claim benefits and ask for help for the first time in their lives. I wonder whether it will be an eye opener for some about how difficult it is to claim anything and how little help is actually available. With a bit of luck, there might not be quite so many accusations of "benefit scrounging".

I really hope so, but already I hear people differentiating between those who have lost work because of Covid, and those who are out of work for other reasons. There was a massive difference between the £2600 a month maximum given to people on furlough in the first round and those relying on Universal Credit. It's as though those people on UC lost work carelessly, like losing their keys, whereas people affected by the pandemic are innocent victims. I've heard people say 'Oh, but I always worked until Covid', as though someone losing a job because a factory closed, or a company lost a contract hadn't worked until then, or was somehow to blame.

I hoped at the start that the sudden loss of work for those who had previously been sheltered from poverty might bring about a shift in attitude, and a call for an increase in benefit payments, particularly as politicians were forced to admit that they couldn't live on statutory sick pay or Universal Credit; but I'm losing hope that that will happen.

Good post Jayt.

It’s in Southwark for 2 weeks over the school holidays and amounts to £25,000.

Yes Jayt you are right.
I’m fed up of saying that people can succeed if they work hard enough. Children from disadvantaged backgrounds have a mountain to climb before they even draw level.
Anyone in doubt should read Michael Sandel’s books, the latest is The Tyranny of Merit. He is an American philosopher, but we are following hard in their footsteps.

Jayt

The division of wealth in Britain was clear as soon as some people had to depend on food banks. Successive governments have seen it necessary to “punish” the poor for being in poverty and sadly we haven’t moved far from Victorian times in that respect. Poverty should never be dealt with by charity, it should be dealt with by taxes being charged and distributed rationally. One asks what children have ever done to deserve such a rough deal from well heeled governments. The answer is nothing. They have no say, no power, no leverage. It’s up to the electorate in this country to demand fairness and not put up with the feathering of cronies nests as we have seen in recent contract awards worth millions. We are so wrapped up in supporting charities that we forget the ultimate responsibility lies with government to which most of us pay taxes for the purpose of giving people social security.

Good post..
What have children done to deserve this.

Suffer little children.

The division of wealth in Britain was clear as soon as some people had to depend on food banks. Successive governments have seen it necessary to “punish” the poor for being in poverty and sadly we haven’t moved far from Victorian times in that respect. Poverty should never be dealt with by charity, it should be dealt with by taxes being charged and distributed rationally. One asks what children have ever done to deserve such a rough deal from well heeled governments. The answer is nothing. They have no say, no power, no leverage. It’s up to the electorate in this country to demand fairness and not put up with the feathering of cronies nests as we have seen in recent contract awards worth millions. We are so wrapped up in supporting charities that we forget the ultimate responsibility lies with government to which most of us pay taxes for the purpose of giving people social security.

GillT57

Undoubtedly this will be talked down by our wonderful government, and they will be backed very ably by their supporters who will line up to tell us that (a) you shouldn't have children if you can't feed them (b)they or their sainted Mother could feed a family of five on a lamb bone and two carrots (c) if the parents ( preferably single Mothers) didn't spend all their money on the latest I-phone and/or a flat screen tv then they would be able to feed their children.

It was predicted months ago that many families will be forced to claim benefits and ask for help for the first time in their lives. I wonder whether it will be an eye opener for some about how difficult it is to claim anything and how little help is actually available. With a bit of luck, there might not be quite so many accusations of "benefit scrounging".

I don't understand the following:

"There are many reasons that children don’t get enough to eat, and not all linked to poverty, as one in five who are already getting food help/ breakfast boxes are not eligible for free school meals."

Just because children are not eligible for free school meals does not mean that the family is not living in poverty.

The eligibility criteria for free school meals mean that it is almost impossible for any child living in a family where one parent works to receive free school meals.

Before Universal Credit was introduced, children in families in receipt of any amount of Working Tax Credit couldn't receive FSM. This conditionality has been carried over to UC.

Universal Credit was supposed to get rid of cliff edges which made people worse off in work, but it hasn't.

There are families on very low incomes, where the children are not eligible for free school meals. Various reports, such as those by the Joseph Rowntree Trust, have pointed out that in-work poverty is possibly higher than out-of-work poverty. I'm not sure that's correct, but it's certainly true that many poor families don't receive free school meals. Some of them are being helped by charities such as the Trussell Trust and others.

2.4 million of U.K. children were in food insecurity before covid hit.

Imagine that.

10% of children in the U.K. experience SERIOUS. Food insecurity.

That means that they are hungry most of the time.

2.4 CHILDREN IN FOOD SECURITY

it needs repeating over and over.

The Labour Party were working towards this date that would see the end of childhood poverty in the U.K.

The Tory party aren’t fit to govern.

UN humanitarian aid agency Unicef are providing over £700,000 in emergency funding to feed hungry children in the UK, for the first time in their 70 year history.

This is the first time Unicef have launched a domestic emergency response in the UK, with money going to "over 30 communities up and down the" country.

Anna Kettley, Director of Programmes at Unicef UK, told LBC: “We know that the coronavirus pandemic is the most urgent crisis affecting children since the Second World War and it is ending childrens’ lives everywhere, including right here at home.

"We know that before the pandemic 2.4 million children across the UK were already growing up in food insecure households and that since the lockdown period and the ongoing crisis, 32 percent of households have experienced a drop of income.

"Some families are having to make some really difficult decisions right now between heating and eating."

That is the full quote, which certainly says that even before the pandemic 2,4 million children in the UK were experiencing food poverty.

A National disgrace indeed.

Ask yourselves. Has UNICEF given to France, or Spain it Italy or Germany or even the USA where poverty is so dreadful.

Then ask yourself why. The only possible conclusion is the policies of the Tory party.

I get so angry when I see Mp's visiting foodbanks,grinning and telling us that foodbanks are a great thing.Government needs to step up and help those in need.In Scotland theres a new payment for children age 6 and under , the wee ones who wont qualify for school meals .Its not their fault family income has dropped through the floor so why should they be made to suffer.
The extra £10 a week payment per child will be a huge help to many families this year .There are many who wont accept charity but if its coming from the government its acceptable as everyone in the same boat gets it .Just thank your god you're not in the same boat.

I dislike the quote Charity begins at home because it is used so often by those who do not agree with the UKs foreign aid policy. I also believe it is a misquote because the origins were that charity is learned in the home, which enables children to grow up with compassion and care for others.

We are not a poor country by global standards but the Pandemic has shown how deep the divisions have become in the UK between rich and poor, with many working families unable to feed and clothe their children. It is a national shame that thousands of families suffer the indignity of having to rely on charity for basic needs, and worse that this is becoming the accepted norm and lauded by some MPs.

I wish I felt optimistic that we have learnt lessons during the Pandemic, about unfettered capitalism but am not hopeful.

There are times when we all need extra help and this time has got to be top of the list.
Good post lemongrove

I am just glad families will be helped. This pandemic has caused misery for so many.

I could not help feeling that as soon as zero contract hours became acceptable it became inevitable. Very sad state of affairs, very sad!

Yes. Thank you for your clear, commonsense post, Lemongrove.
We will have contributed plenty to Unicef, to help others.