As Edwina Curry just said on Radio 5, the first priority for anyone is food. If some people choose to place other things ahead of it then they're putting themselves in the position of hunger.
A lot of people are going to food banks in order to get cheap or free food so that they can buy other less important things.
The homeless, mentally ill, drug addicts and alcoholics have always, and rightly, been given charity from churches and voluntary organisations. What's different now is that other groups are taking advantage of charity.
It's a bandwagon. We have a welfare state. This is not India, South America or an undeveloped country.
As Edwina Curry just said on Radio 5, the first priority for anyone is food. If some people choose to place other things ahead of it then they're putting themselves in the position of hunger.
A lot of people are going to food banks in order to get cheap or free food so that they can buy other less important things.
The homeless, mentally ill, drug addicts and alcoholics have always, and rightly, been given charity from churches and voluntary organisations. What's different now is that other groups are taking advantage of charity.
It's a bandwagon. We have a welfare state. This is not India, South America or an undeveloped country.
Better tell that to all the hard working people having to use food banks, as they are the biggest increase of people needing to use them. An "alarming" 78% rise in food bank inquiries has taken place over the last six months, as people with jobs start using them to provide emergency supplies until their next pay day.
The figures from Citizens Advice will raise serious concerns that more people are sliding towards the poverty line and are finding it difficult to feed themselves. They reveal significant regional disparities in demand for information about food bank services in England and Wales, suggesting certain parts of the country are suffering considerably more than others.Now, for the first time, the charity has warned that its bureaux are beginning to see people in employment seeking emergency food supplies. Even affluent parts of the country have experienced greater demand for food banks.
"Ministers will be particularly concerned that I am getting reports from our bureaux of working families being forced to turn to food banks," Guy said. "In our Solihull office, staff say they are giving out food parcels on average once every two days. Many working people struggle to pay bills and pay for food in the few days before pay day and are forced to seek emergency help."
As Edwina Curry just said on Radio 5, the first priority for anyone is food. If some people choose to place other things ahead of it then they're putting themselves in the position of hunger.
A lot of people are going to food banks in order to get cheap or free food so that they can buy other less important things.
The homeless, mentally ill, drug addicts and alcoholics have always, and rightly, been given charity from churches and voluntary organisations. What's different now is that other groups are taking advantage of charity.
It's a bandwagon. We have a welfare state. This is not India, South America or an undeveloped country.
The Trussel Trust, the biggest food bank provider was set up in Salisbury at the height of the last goverments' boom time, 2004.
How many were questioning then, why a food bank was needed in one of the most prosperous cities in the country, before any recession?
Could it be for the same reasons that they are being used now?
Short term emergency help mainly for people are waiting for benefits to be sorted out?
Salisbury's current unemployment rate is 31/2%, much lower than the national average, to give you an idea of how well the city is doing and has been for a long time.
With all this fuss about foodbanks signaling widespread famine, I'm wondering why there haven't been a mass of stories of people being turned away.
Which would be happening if there was widespread famine, as they are only able to provide help after referral for a very short period of time and further referrals are not allowed within a certain timescale.
Better tell that to all the hard working people having to use food banks, as they are the biggest increase of people needing to use them. An "alarming" 78% rise in food bank inquiries has taken place over the last six months, as people with jobs start using them to provide emergency supplies until their next pay day.
The figures from Citizens Advice will raise serious concerns that more people are sliding towards the poverty line and are finding it difficult to feed themselves. They reveal significant regional disparities in demand for information about food bank services in England and Wales, suggesting certain parts of the country are suffering considerably more than others.Now, for the first time, the charity has warned that its bureaux are beginning to see people in employment seeking emergency food supplies. Even affluent parts of the country have experienced greater demand for food banks.
"Ministers will be particularly concerned that I am getting reports from our bureaux of working families being forced to turn to food banks," Guy said. "In our Solihull office, staff say they are giving out food parcels on average once every two days. Many working people struggle to pay bills and pay for food in the few days before pay day and are forced to seek emergency help."
It really would be very interesting to see how these people have spent their money - including any food they have bought - prior to having to resort to the foodbank in those last few days before pay day.
Instead the poor people who actually need to visit these places in order to survive, are held up to ridicule.
No cocker, you are the one who should hang their head in shame. I have been associated with Food Banks for 10 years and intricately for 5 years. In fact I shall be off to volunteer at mine later today. You clearly do not understand their purpose or value. Shame on you.
As Edwina Curry just said on Radio 5, the first priority for anyone is food. If some people choose to place other things ahead of it then they're putting themselves in the position of hunger.
A lot of people are going to food banks in order to get cheap or free food so that they can buy other less important things.
The homeless, mentally ill, drug addicts and alcoholics have always, and rightly, been given charity from churches and voluntary organisations. What's different now is that other groups are taking advantage of charity.
It's a bandwagon. We have a welfare state. This is not India, South America or an undeveloped country.
You have to be referred to a food bank. You cannot just turn up and get food
It really would be very interesting to see how these people have spent their money - including any food they have bought - prior to having to resort to the foodbank in those last few days before pay day.
Mobile phones, broadband, cable TV and **** don't just pay for themselves you know.
Mobile phones and **** are also classed as essentials now? When did this happen?
What you posted is, what I posted isn't. It's of no real surprise given the definition of poverty now is not owning an iPhone.
Actually I posted essentials , what everybody needs to pay out on. You listed luxuries that not everyone getting food parcels will be spending money on. You were , for god knows what reason, trying to smear food bank customers.
Was I really? I was actually giving examples to the quoted poster of what sort of things will be paid out for before approaching a foodbank.
The difference between me and you are just looking to pick a fight where there isn't one, whereas I am giving examples of what might be happening, albeit in a flippant way. For many people, a mobile phone isn't an essential item anymore, particularly that almost everyone seems to have one.
Was I really? I was actually giving examples to the quoted poster of what sort of things will be paid out for before approaching a foodbank.
The difference between me and you are just looking to pick a fight where there isn't one, whereas I am giving examples of what might be happening, albeit in a flippant way. For many people, a mobile phone isn't an essential item anymore, particularly that almost everyone seems to have one.
Good for you that you see this state of affairs as humourous.
Mobile phones and **** are also classed as essentials now? When did this happen?
What you posted is, what I posted isn't. It's of no real surprise given the definition of poverty now is not owning an iPhone.
Simple things can push people into needing help like this, the lack of wage increases but even the basic things have been increasing, transport cost getting to work, train fare going up every year, energy cost going up every year but wages are not.
I am not trying to pick a fight just trying to inject some balance. That you feel threatened by that .... Well.
I was also trying to inject some balance which is why I specifically asked about what these people are spending on food - presumably they are able to afford some before they go to the foodbank at the end of the month. For example, are they simply buying too much earlier in the month and not able to use it all? Are they just eating too much? - we know many people do.
In either case this is hardly the government's fault, is it?
Not everyone using a food bank is choosing to spend their money on non-essentials some owe money to unpleasant people and others literally have no money.
Sanctioned JSA claimants can in some circumstances not be eligible for hardship payments, despite having no money at all, no ability to buy food.
ESA claimants who want to appeal being refused ESA have to first wait for DWP reconsideration during which they receive no money.
Those declared unfit for work by doctors are not eligible for JSA and if assessed as fit for work by ESA not eligible for ESA, they receive no money.
Those with serious health problems including mental health problems can be incapable of meeting JSA or ESA conditionality and have their benefits stopped or sanctioned.
The DWP can also screw up benefits.
Thing is many food banks will not provide food long-term to individuals and some will not provide food if the person has been sanctioned by the DWP. They see themselves as short term support or support for the deserving needy. People should not have to rely on charity to eat.
The only person I knew who used a food bank had serious mental health problems and the DWP screwed up their benefits.
Who is angry,? Just asking why you feel the need to be flippent about a serious subject.
I said that it could be the case that people will be paying for luxuries such as ****, phones and cable TV before getting round to feeding themselves. The flippancy was in the way I said it, but the facts will still be the same. There was certainly no humorous slant as you seem to be implying, which I guess in doing so allows you to swerve around the chances this could be happening by attempting to denigrate my posts as fantasy, mickey taking and conjecture.
I said that it could be the case that people will be paying for luxuries such as ****, phones and cable TV before getting round to feeding themselves. The flippancy was in the way I said it, but the facts will still be the same. There was certainly no humorous slant as you seem to be implying, which I guess in doing so allows you to swerve around the chances this could be happening by attempting to denigrate my posts as fantasy, mickey taking and conjecture.
Well as you have to be referred toa food bank , I would assume that you have to show need. I doubt that you can walk up to them and ask for food because you are a bit " short " at the moment
I said that it could be the case that people will be paying for luxuries such as ****, phones and cable TV before getting round to feeding themselves.
I agree that for many using food banks is due to poor budgeting, another big cause I expect is debts or simply not having enough to make ends meet no matter how hard they try. The question is how low a standard of living should people have before they are given the assistance of a food bank? I doubt many people see themselves as choosing to go beg rather than being driven to it by desperation.
Many food banks only offer short term support and many do not act as their own gate keepers they rely on referrals from doctors, social workers, job centre plus,... So I expect most are providing short-term help while a source of income is resolved like benefit delay, or are helping people for a few days each month to help or enable them to make ends meet.
Comments
A lot of people are going to food banks in order to get cheap or free food so that they can buy other less important things.
The homeless, mentally ill, drug addicts and alcoholics have always, and rightly, been given charity from churches and voluntary organisations. What's different now is that other groups are taking advantage of charity.
It's a bandwagon. We have a welfare state. This is not India, South America or an undeveloped country.
Better tell that to all the hard working people having to use food banks, as they are the biggest increase of people needing to use them. An "alarming" 78% rise in food bank inquiries has taken place over the last six months, as people with jobs start using them to provide emergency supplies until their next pay day.
The figures from Citizens Advice will raise serious concerns that more people are sliding towards the poverty line and are finding it difficult to feed themselves. They reveal significant regional disparities in demand for information about food bank services in England and Wales, suggesting certain parts of the country are suffering considerably more than others.Now, for the first time, the charity has warned that its bureaux are beginning to see people in employment seeking emergency food supplies. Even affluent parts of the country have experienced greater demand for food banks.
"Ministers will be particularly concerned that I am getting reports from our bureaux of working families being forced to turn to food banks," Guy said. "In our Solihull office, staff say they are giving out food parcels on average once every two days. Many working people struggle to pay bills and pay for food in the few days before pay day and are forced to seek emergency help."
Also payday loans funding rents and mortgages http://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&frm=1&source=web&cd=5&cad=rja&ved=0CE0QFjAE&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.bbc.co.uk%2Fnews%2Fuk-25733830&ei=SyrbUr_bNcKnhAfCh4HAAw&usg=AFQjCNHofgl-PJDUDgpC0EQlz1StFr7PwQ&sig2=PVCJxq-I2fCEIIAsxG6-sQ
How many were questioning then, why a food bank was needed in one of the most prosperous cities in the country, before any recession?
Could it be for the same reasons that they are being used now?
Short term emergency help mainly for people are waiting for benefits to be sorted out?
Salisbury's current unemployment rate is 31/2%, much lower than the national average, to give you an idea of how well the city is doing and has been for a long time.
With all this fuss about foodbanks signaling widespread famine, I'm wondering why there haven't been a mass of stories of people being turned away.
Which would be happening if there was widespread famine, as they are only able to provide help after referral for a very short period of time and further referrals are not allowed within a certain timescale.
It really would be very interesting to see how these people have spent their money - including any food they have bought - prior to having to resort to the foodbank in those last few days before pay day.
You have to be referred to a food bank. You cannot just turn up and get food
Mobile phones, broadband, cable TV and **** don't just pay for themselves you know.
Nor does electricity, gas, food, clothes, rent etc .
Mobile phones and **** are also classed as essentials now? When did this happen?
What you posted is, what I posted isn't. It's of no real surprise given the definition of poverty now is not owning an iPhone.
Actually I posted essentials , what everybody needs to pay out on. You listed luxuries that not everyone getting food parcels will be spending money on. You were , for god knows what reason, trying to smear food bank customers.
The difference between me and you are just looking to pick a fight where there isn't one, whereas I am giving examples of what might be happening, albeit in a flippant way. For many people, a mobile phone isn't an essential item anymore, particularly that almost everyone seems to have one.
Good for you that you see this state of affairs as humourous.
I am not trying to pick a fight just trying to inject some balance. That you feel threatened by that .... Well.
Simple things can push people into needing help like this, the lack of wage increases but even the basic things have been increasing, transport cost getting to work, train fare going up every year, energy cost going up every year but wages are not.
Who is angry,? Just asking why you feel the need to be flippent about a serious subject.
I really don't see why they get so much criticism. Other charities don't get the flak for helping those in need.
I was also trying to inject some balance which is why I specifically asked about what these people are spending on food - presumably they are able to afford some before they go to the foodbank at the end of the month. For example, are they simply buying too much earlier in the month and not able to use it all? Are they just eating too much? - we know many people do.
In either case this is hardly the government's fault, is it?
Sanctioned JSA claimants can in some circumstances not be eligible for hardship payments, despite having no money at all, no ability to buy food.
ESA claimants who want to appeal being refused ESA have to first wait for DWP reconsideration during which they receive no money.
Those declared unfit for work by doctors are not eligible for JSA and if assessed as fit for work by ESA not eligible for ESA, they receive no money.
Those with serious health problems including mental health problems can be incapable of meeting JSA or ESA conditionality and have their benefits stopped or sanctioned.
The DWP can also screw up benefits.
Thing is many food banks will not provide food long-term to individuals and some will not provide food if the person has been sanctioned by the DWP. They see themselves as short term support or support for the deserving needy. People should not have to rely on charity to eat.
The only person I knew who used a food bank had serious mental health problems and the DWP screwed up their benefits.
I said that it could be the case that people will be paying for luxuries such as ****, phones and cable TV before getting round to feeding themselves. The flippancy was in the way I said it, but the facts will still be the same. There was certainly no humorous slant as you seem to be implying, which I guess in doing so allows you to swerve around the chances this could be happening by attempting to denigrate my posts as fantasy, mickey taking and conjecture.
Well as you have to be referred toa food bank , I would assume that you have to show need. I doubt that you can walk up to them and ask for food because you are a bit " short " at the moment
Many food banks only offer short term support and many do not act as their own gate keepers they rely on referrals from doctors, social workers, job centre plus,... So I expect most are providing short-term help while a source of income is resolved like benefit delay, or are helping people for a few days each month to help or enable them to make ends meet.