Child poverty is overwhelming teachers & GPs!

Doodledog

Dear God.

To paraphrase Carla Denyer - This is dignified, isn't it?

This thread is absolutely shameful. I wish the election were over and done with. I am appalled at the lack of human kindness on this, and other threads. What has this country become?

There are only a few hateful comments, its easy to think otherwise.

What's that saying.....be careful who you meet on the way up and all that!

Some of these people slagging folk off, maybe glad of their help in years to come.

Glorianny

Primrose53

GrannyRose15

Don’t worry. Food banks will disappear overnight once Labour gets into power.

We have Labour to thank for creating a generation dependent on hand outs. The more they get the more they expect.

Free school meals, foodbanks, breakfast clubs, benefits - still not good enough, they were asking for others to feed their kids in school holidays!

Actually children on free school meals used to be fed in the school holidays. I loved school at the primary stage and I can remember asking my mum why some children on my council estate were going into school during the summer holidays, because I wanted to go as well. She explained that they were children with daddies who were out of work and they went for their lunch. That was in the 1950s

Not in our county. The only person who ever entered the school during 6 weeks summer holiday was the cleaner.

It is very sad that this is happening.
I said further back a reversal of fortune can happen to anyone.

Local authorities provide vouchers for food for children during the holidays and ours runs holiday activities where food is provided.

zakouma66

Primrose53

MissAdventure

Breakfast clubs, which are used for many different reasons, charge, foobanks allow six visits (I think)

Only certain foodbanks do that. There are loads of foodbanks like at the Salvation Army where people can go as often as they like. There are also foodbanks at community fridges of which there are many.

You can't just rock up at the local SA. You need a referral and you certainly can't go multiple times.

Still, lets not let the truth get in the way.

You do NOT need a referral to go to our local Salvation Army Food Bank. Anybody can go. It is open one morning a week and if you need food at another time the SA number is there and they will help you out. you CAN go as often as you like.
My daughter helped out there for a while and it is floor to ceiling with donated food. There is a back door so you can go in without embarrassment and the staff are very helpful. People are usually given two very large carrier bags of food, electricity vouchers are available if you are desperate and they have everything from toothpaste and sanitary towels to tea bags, biscuits, pasta, long life milk, sugar, tinned and packet foods and even baby nappies.

You need to check facts before insinuating that other people are not telling the truth.

You are obviously confused with the food banks where you are only allowed about 3 visits in a month I think.

We run an emergency food bank on Thursday afternoon. *Please get a referral. If you can't please ring us or email for an appointment. Donations of non-perishable foods welcome via our charity shop*

Cut and paste from my local SA. Maybe check your facts?

This thread is absolutely shameful. I wish the election were over and done with. I am appalled at the lack of human kindness on this, and other threads. What has this country become

Doodledog hear, hear!

I’m beginning to be truly shocked at the lack of compassion shown on here. I thought GN posters were more humane - is the election campaign bringing out the worst in people? It’s depressing!

By the way , I am not confused and I also know Morocco isn't Libya.

zakouma66

*We run an emergency food bank on Thursday afternoon. Please get a referral. If you can't please ring us or email for an appointment. Donations of non-perishable foods welcome via our charity shop*

Cut and paste from my local SA. Maybe check your facts?

Well obviously different corps of the SA do things differently.

Are you always so doubting?

Primrose53

Glorianny

Primrose53

GrannyRose15

Don’t worry. Food banks will disappear overnight once Labour gets into power.

We have Labour to thank for creating a generation dependent on hand outs. The more they get the more they expect.

Free school meals, foodbanks, breakfast clubs, benefits - still not good enough, they were asking for others to feed their kids in school holidays!

Actually children on free school meals used to be fed in the school holidays. I loved school at the primary stage and I can remember asking my mum why some children on my council estate were going into school during the summer holidays, because I wanted to go as well. She explained that they were children with daddies who were out of work and they went for their lunch. That was in the 1950s

Not in our county. The only person who ever entered the school during 6 weeks summer holiday was the cleaner.

Some schools did not open but children having free school meals could go to another school. It largely depended on if there was a school kitchen. They opened. Children from other schools went there.

Germanshepherdsmum

I have little compassion for those who don’t try to better themselves and that includes people who have many more children than they can afford to look after. I reserve my compassion for animals which are grossly mistreated by the human race and have no voice or government assistance.

Btw jenpax, you perhaps don’t know that I am a retired solicitor who did a lot of pro bono work whilst working full time.

Yes I did know this as it has been mentioned several times. To be honest it makes your right wing views even harder to understand as you appear to have skipped compassion in your travels!

Your problem, not mine.

You need to check facts before insinuating that other people are not telling the truth

Had you now been quite as rude and had I not been a volunteer with the SA, I probably wouldn't have bothered really.

I checked local food bank stats as the council has a full list and how to access.

There are just over 30 "food banks' in the medium size city. (which appalled me actually)

6 of those are not food banks but "come and get a hot meal" on various days (clearly including catering more homeless?)

Of the remaining 24

20 can only be accessed by referrals from agencies/professionals, and food is not given out without tokens from professionals at least officially

These are long term food banks run by volunteers or charities such as the Trussel Trust.

www.trusselltrust.org

Of the 4 remaining, they are open on certain days, but I can't find the criteria. I think they may be "community groceries" selling food at v low prices?

Unsure about where all funding comes from, many give standing orders to the big food banks.

I think there is much ignorance, and yes arrogance apparent on this thread about why not everyone makes a success of their lives, and find themselves at the bottom of the heap, having to accept help from others.

It’s not simply an unwillingness to “better themselves” as some think ie “I did it why can’t they”? I suggest, if this is what you believe why don’t you offer your services at a food bank, for example. Listen to the life stories of some of those to whom food banks may be a lifeline rather than criticise.

My local food bank in addition offers debt counselling, help with CVs and job interviews, life skills and access to counselling and medical help where necessary. What they don’t do is judge their clients.

I was on a train with three people obviously with an alcohol problem (passing a bottle wrapped in a plastic bag). They were a bit noisy but realised it and apologised to me. "We aren't bad people," one said "We just made some bad choices"

It isn't fair or right to abandon people or their children because they made bad choices.

My local food bank in addition offers debt counselling, help with CVs and job interviews, life skills and access to counselling and medical help where necessary. What they don’t do is judge their clients

Farzanah 👏👏👏

GSM with your extensive wealth of legal knowledge, perhaps you could volunteer at a food bank near you offering a similar service.

Oh wait a minute! These volunteers don’t judge their clients - that might be problematic

I have done my share of pro bono legal work in law centres. You may not have noticed that. No need to be so unpleasant is there?

zakouma66

*You need to check facts before insinuating that other people are not telling the truth*

Had you now been quite as rude and had I not been a volunteer with the SA, I probably wouldn't have bothered really.

I have never been rude to you.

Our local foodbank also has similar agencies to yours Farzanah, including the law centre.

I have met some lovely people there.

Primrose53

zakouma66

You need to check facts before insinuating that other people are not telling the truth

Had you now been quite as rude and had I not been a volunteer with the SA, I probably wouldn't have bothered really.

I have never been rude to you.

One could argue that " you need to check facts" is bordering on rude.
Or " you are obviously confused"

zakouma66

*We run an emergency food bank on Thursday afternoon. Please get a referral. If you can't please ring us or email for an appointment. Donations of non-perishable foods welcome via our charity shop*

Cut and paste from my local SA. Maybe check your facts?

It says if you can’t get a referral to ring or email them, so you obvs can get food without a referral.
Good old Salvation Army, always there for people.😍

LizzieDrip

^My local food bank in addition offers debt counselling, help with CVs and job interviews, life skills and access to counselling and medical help where necessary. What they don’t do is judge their clients^

Farzanah 👏👏👏

GSM with your extensive wealth of legal knowledge, perhaps you could volunteer at a food bank near you offering a similar service.

Oh wait a minute! These volunteers don’t judge their clients - that might be problematic

LizzieDrip why oh why do you always have to be personal in your posts to others.

zakouma66

Primrose53

zakouma66

You need to check facts before insinuating that other people are not telling the truth

Had you now been quite as rude and had I not been a volunteer with the SA, I probably wouldn't have bothered really.

I have never been rude to you.

One could argue that " you need to check facts" is bordering on rude.
Or " you are obviously confused"

You call that rude? 🤔

Oreo

zakouma66

We run an emergency food bank on Thursday afternoon. *Please get a referral. If you can't please ring us or email for an appointment. Donations of non-perishable foods welcome via our charity shop*

Cut and paste from my local SA. Maybe check your facts?

It says if you can’t get a referral to ring or email them, so you obvs can get food without a referral.
Good old Salvation Army, always there for people.😍

The Salvation Army Corps here is extremely well supported by local people and shops. Most shops have a box for donated food items. Various clubs raise thousands for them to buy more food, electricity vouchers etc. some local lads did a big fundraising event and raised a couple of thousand pounds which they donated to the SA.