Too many British families are hungry!

Yes, there is a lot of "food poverty".
I was there once, but I made the most of what I had because I had the good fortune to have been taught how to eke things out. I managed to put food on the table for my children, and yes, I did go without occasionally. But I soldiered on.
My parents weren't wealthy and we were hand to mouth. We didn't have our own house, but what my parents have was a lot of ingenuity and perseverance. My Birthday present one year was an orange box made into a dolls cot. Dad papered my bedroom walls with wallpaper samples thrown out by a shop. Mum would invent meals with the ingredients she had. I learnt a lot from my parents and grandparents.
It's a shame that these life skills don't seem to be passed down.
The thing is, who's responsibility is it to help? And who should be teaching youngsters how to cope?

Inflation is at least 20%. Wages are not rising to keep pace. Energy prices are at an all time high. Poor eating lots of cheap processed foods or take aways. We are raising a generation of poorly fed children with inadequate dentistry and healthcare. Very sad.

Cossy

Oh and make soup! I forgot the soup!

If you’re having a dig at me it’s water off a duck’s back! 🤣

I’ve met many people who can’t think for themselves or can’t be bothered to better themselves so they enjoy poking fun at others but trust me ….. I AIN’T BOVVERED! 😝

MaizieD

^My Dad and his friend bought a pig between them to fatten up with scraps from the hotel they worked in on very low wages. People grew vegetables and fruit and salad stuff not for fun but of necessity. I think people back then had more of a “can do” attitude than now. Now it’s more like “I can’t do so and so because I haven’t got a saucepan”.^

Great ideas for the urban poor who live in blocks of flats...

There were no blocks of flats when my Dad was a young man. I was making the point that you do what you have to do when times are hard. I can tell you one thing, he would never have just sat down and done nothing.😉

Cossy

I too think this thread has said it all.

I’m off to buy my pig and chickens, and plant my potatoes, peas and cabbages, all in my mid terrace postage stamp size garden!

I think people did keep pigs in their tiny terraced house gardens... imagine!!

Oh and make soup! I forgot the soup!

I too think this thread has said it all.

I’m off to buy my pig and chickens, and plant my potatoes, peas and cabbages, all in my mid terrace postage stamp size garden!

I suppose now is the time when I could say, I've never needed support with my mental health, apart from bereavement counselling.

I could assume that I would look at a successful, comfortably off person and say "well, what have YOU got to be depressed about?", but thankfully, we now have greater understanding of mental health issues.

Germanshepherdsmum

I have never had, or sought, help from mental health services, only from my GP. I was given an emergency appointment, understanding and medication which I still take today. I had to work, full stop. There was no alternative. I didn’t ‘miss the compassion bus’, I treat others as I treat myself. There’s nothing like having to pay the bills and feed and clothe a child, with no support from a partner, to focus the mind.

Good for you. Been there myself. Twice. And whilst I too managed things (mostly) by myself, with a little help from my GP/Health Visitor, I have had people in my life who have needed more and would not be here without. I would NEVER belittle someone's need for greater support for their mental health.

I've said all I have to say regarding this particular thread. And for that reason,

I'm out

I was brought up with ‘no such word as can’t’. I stand by that. It has served me well. I have no time for those who will not stand on their own two feet and earn their living unless they are physically or mentally genuinely unable to do so. It’s too easy for too many to stay at home and live off the rest of us.

Sometimes it's a combination of events, along with lack of support, or the ability to access it, rather than just saying "I'm too ill to work because of a,b or c".

Cossy

lizzypopbottle

I'm not reading 17 repetitive pages. I've made it to the end of page 4. Arguing and ranting won't solve poverty but for those in such dire need that they only have a kettle, i.e. no cooker, surely Social Services should be involved? When my son was doing the Duke of Edinburgh award scheme expeditions, they were not allowed to pack pot noodles or cup soups because there was not enough nutrition in them.

Your comment about social services really just shows how little you know about these things! People with just kettles are often in temp accommodation , temp accommodation can mean hostels/rooms/cheap hotels or in some dire cases houses/flats that others have been moved out of because they’ve been condemned!

Social Services are so stretched and short staffed they only work with the most neglected children/families and the elderly in the most dire circumstances.

We have a huge shortage of services for our vulnerable citizens

Anyone who is so dismissive of others that they admit to not bothering to read what people have said but write it off as 'ranting' and 'repetitive' is showing very clearly how little they know, or care, about anyone other than themselves and their own point of view.

It doesn't surprise me that the post has nothing to add, really.

Germanshepherdsmum

I have never had, or sought, help from mental health services, only from my GP. I was given an emergency appointment, understanding and medication which I still take today. I had to work, full stop. There was no alternative. I didn’t ‘miss the compassion bus’, I treat others as I treat myself. There’s nothing like having to pay the bills and feed and clothe a child, with no support from a partner, to focus the mind.

I think you’re a very strong minded, hard working, intelligent and highly educated woman who has done absolutely brilliantly in her personal and professional life. However, not everyone is cut from the same cloth GSM. I too worked full time all my life, with both physical and mental health issues and as a single mum for 9 years. I too am a strong independent woman with great stable parents, who brought me up to be independent.

One of our adult daughters is autistic, one has serious mental health issues, both work full time in stressful jobs because they have great support from home and we paid privately for both of them for both diagnosis and treatment, the services let them both down very badly. But not everyone has stable parents who can help them in many ways. People deal with things differently. We are all affected by things differently. I speak as a woman whose biological father and maternal grandfather both took their own lives.

I’d never decry someone else for not coping with things the way both my mother and I have.

I don't think it's ever going to happen.

We manage to at least get to the point of discussing it, then up pop the fake nails, big TVs and hair extensions.

Cossy

So let’s talk about being on benefits and unable to work because you’re temporarily suffering from depression and don’t qualify for anything more than standard allowances, no PIP, you’re single parent with two young children and live in rented accommodation, which you have you pay a £50 a month top up.

Your rent us paid, bar the top up, you receive child benefit and slightly more UC than below as you have children.

Standard allowance
You’ll get one standard allowance for your household.

How much you’ll get
Monthly standard allowance

If you’re single and under 25£292.11
If you’re single and 25 or over£368.74
If you live with your partner and you’re both under 25£458.51 (for you both)
If you live with your partner and either of you are 25 or over£578.82 (for you both)

So out of the above you pay your £50 a month top up, you also pay full water rates, Approx 20% if council tax, (almost everyone has to pay something now), electricity, gas, (probably on a pre pay meter, so more expensive), one child at school so uniform and possibly bus fares as not all schools are walking distance and one child still at home in nappies.

You’re 24 years old!

Do the maths, then tell me these people cannot manage their money!

What does it take to convince people that the root of most of the problem is a shortage of money.

My Dad and his friend bought a pig between them to fatten up with scraps from the hotel they worked in on very low wages. People grew vegetables and fruit and salad stuff not for fun but of necessity. I think people back then had more of a “can do” attitude than now. Now it’s more like “I can’t do so and so because I haven’t got a saucepan”.

Great ideas for the urban poor who live in blocks of flats...

lizzypopbottle

I'm not reading 17 repetitive pages. I've made it to the end of page 4. Arguing and ranting won't solve poverty but for those in such dire need that they only have a kettle, i.e. no cooker, surely Social Services should be involved? When my son was doing the Duke of Edinburgh award scheme expeditions, they were not allowed to pack pot noodles or cup soups because there was not enough nutrition in them.

MissAdventure have you considered supermarket delivery? I doubt if any of the delivery slots cost £14. Morrison's slots start from £1.50 and Tesco's Whoosh option delivers a couple of bags of shopping in as little as 20 minutes for £2.99!

Yes, of course I use supermarket delivery.

I'd not be able to manage to get shopping otherwise ,

I have never had, or sought, help from mental health services, only from my GP. I was given an emergency appointment, understanding and medication which I still take today. I had to work, full stop. There was no alternative. I didn’t ‘miss the compassion bus’, I treat others as I treat myself. There’s nothing like having to pay the bills and feed and clothe a child, with no support from a partner, to focus the mind.

Cossy

So let’s talk about being on benefits and unable to work because you’re temporarily suffering from depression and don’t qualify for anything more than standard allowances, no PIP, you’re single parent with two young children and live in rented accommodation, which you have you pay a £50 a month top up.

Your rent us paid, bar the top up, you receive child benefit and slightly more UC than below as you have children.

Standard allowance
You’ll get one standard allowance for your household.

How much you’ll get
Monthly standard allowance

If you’re single and under 25£292.11
If you’re single and 25 or over£368.74
If you live with your partner and you’re both under 25£458.51 (for you both)
If you live with your partner and either of you are 25 or over£578.82 (for you both)

So out of the above you pay your £50 a month top up, you also pay full water rates, Approx 20% if council tax, (almost everyone has to pay something now), electricity, gas, (probably on a pre pay meter, so more expensive), one child at school so uniform and possibly bus fares as not all schools are walking distance and one child still at home in nappies.

You’re 24 years old!

Do the maths, then tell me these people cannot manage their money!

More than likely because after all that, they haven't got anything left!!

And for the people talking about depression.....

Not everyone's LIVED EXPERIENCE is the same

Mental Health services are on their knees, for adults AND children/young people and it can take up to two years to get any kind of appointment. And if you're looking at private support, it's probably over £100 an hour now, for a family.

Some folk in this thread clearly missed the compassion bus.

MissInterpreted

Primrose53

Of course it is never the fault of the child, we all know that and I can’t see that anybody has suggested it is. It is usually the fault of parents who either can’t or won’t manage their housekeeping money properly. They get their priorities wrong and then the kids suffer.

But surely our priority, as a society, should be making sure that those children don't go hungry, whatever the reasons behind me.

And that’s where social services and charities like Salvation Army come in as well as checking you are getting what you are entitled to.

Families on UC have also received around £900 in cost of living payments in the last year. This is automatic, you don’t have to apply for it.

Morrisons were recently giving away food vouchers. A young couple I know received £50. They were given these at the Community fridge.

I feel that as a society we do care about children going hungry.

I have always worked despite suffering from severe depression for almost 40 years. I have strong meditation, and have always recognised and honoured my obligations. I am by no means alone. I don’t recognise being unable to work because you’re ‘temporarily suffering from depression’. Sitting at home is the worst thing you can do if you’re depressed.

So let’s talk about being on benefits and unable to work because you’re temporarily suffering from depression and don’t qualify for anything more than standard allowances, no PIP, you’re single parent with two young children and live in rented accommodation, which you have you pay a £50 a month top up.

Your rent us paid, bar the top up, you receive child benefit and slightly more UC than below as you have children.

Standard allowance
You’ll get one standard allowance for your household.

How much you’ll get
Monthly standard allowance

If you’re single and under 25£292.11
If you’re single and 25 or over£368.74
If you live with your partner and you’re both under 25£458.51 (for you both)
If you live with your partner and either of you are 25 or over£578.82 (for you both)

So out of the above you pay your £50 a month top up, you also pay full water rates, Approx 20% if council tax, (almost everyone has to pay something now), electricity, gas, (probably on a pre pay meter, so more expensive), one child at school so uniform and possibly bus fares as not all schools are walking distance and one child still at home in nappies.

You’re 24 years old!

Do the maths, then tell me these people cannot manage their money!

Primrose53

Of course it is never the fault of the child, we all know that and I can’t see that anybody has suggested it is. It is usually the fault of parents who either can’t or won’t manage their housekeeping money properly. They get their priorities wrong and then the kids suffer.

But surely our priority, as a society, should be making sure that those children don't go hungry, whatever the reasons behind me.

Of course it is never the fault of the child, we all know that and I can’t see that anybody has suggested it is. It is usually the fault of parents who either can’t or won’t manage their housekeeping money properly. They get their priorities wrong and then the kids suffer.