Why Are Some Forced To Depend On Food Handouts In 'benefit Britain'?

[anotheoldgit]

On my visit to a supermarket today I saw shopping trolleys with notices on them asking for donations of items of food for the hungry of this country.

I cannot believe that in 2013 Britain there are people who have to depend on food handouts, especially when this country is supposed to be one of the richest in the world and taking into account the £billions we hand out freely to the rest of the world.

This is yet another time that I can say that I can never remember the time, even during the war, and pre Welfare State days, when I ever remember our local CO-OP appealing for persons to make donations of food for the hungry.

[ummmm]

//IMO the young expect everything given to them on a plate//

Define 'young' Jeza.

My young daughter (21) works full time.
My young nephew (21) works full time.
My young son (16) works full time.

My 'young' 16 year old has saved up and is going on holiday shortly. He doesn't expect anything from anyone! Don't write off young people!!

[tamborine]

2 African women collected 2x2ft sq boxes of charity food and left Tesco carrying them on their heads.

Foreigners seem to be the recipients.

[ummmm]

How daft!!

[Jeza]

I didn't say they didn't work umm. They get into debt for things they want instead of saving up like we did. When they lose their jobs they are then in trouble.

[tamborine]

daft....no. I thought how clever, wish I could load shopping on my head - lol

[jomifl]

can anyone get food from a food bank? are there limits per person/family? how do they work?

[Mamyalynne]

http://www.trusselltrust.org/how-it-works

[ummmm]

Jeza...it's not just young people that get into debt.

What age is considered young? I would guess there are more grown ups with debt than young people.

Were you ever offered a credit card when you were young?

Tambo...are you suggesting that none of the indigenous population ever use food banks? Are all the white people wealthy?

[Zeuhl]

The system encourages everyone to 'get into debt'

Once it was just 30 year mortgages

Now it's Student loans, credit cards and reduced job security

Quite a good way to keep everyone knuckled down and compliant

[daffy654]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-22991939?ocid=socialflow_facebook_bbcnews

This may have a lot to do with it.

[jomifl]

Thanks mamyalynne, I've donated food whenever there has been a collection but had no idea how it was used.
I was once in a postoffice in the UK when 2 chinese women cashed in milk vouchers to the tune of £160. I suppose money is easier to carry than milk.

[Octavius]

"it's not just young people that get into debt."

In 2010 the UK at-risk-of-poverty rates for individuals aged:

25-49 - 13.7%
50-64 - 14.4%
All other age groups wre all in excess of 20% with the exception of those aged 65 and over, where the UK rate was 25.5%.

[tamborine]

no ummm....but I've only seen foreigners dip in to ours. There were 4 large trolley loads.

[Jeza]

What about saying NO. Save up and buy it when you can afford it.

[Octavius]

"Save up and buy it when you can afford it"

You assume that they have spare money to save?

[ummmm]

Tambo - have you read the rules for food banks? You get vouchers issued by the police/social services/GP's/health visitors.

Where exactly were you when you seen foreigners helping themselves?

They don't get to pick their food, it's boxed up in 3 day supplies.

You are talking nonsense!

Jeza - are people suppose to save up to buy food?

[boxtops]

Tambo, not round here, we've had a soup kitchen for years and now have two food banks. It's the locals who benefit. Yes, some of those locals are "foreigners" but they are working people who live in the town.

[anotheoldgit]

Gromit

/// These days the gap between the rich and the poor is a lot wider. There are more people who are very rich and more people who are very poor. ///

What a load of tosh, in the past most of the population were poor, very poor, whereas there were also many very, very rich persons, who owned the mills the coal mines, etc, etc and that is not counting the land owners and the aristocracy etc.

[anotheoldgit]

Octavius

/// "Save up and buy it when you can afford it" ///

/// You assume that they have spare money to save? ///

One had to do years ago, if you didn't you went without.

Hire Purchase was the thing then, and one had to save up for the necessary deposit, usually about 25% before one got the goods, and then it was only on hire until one had paid the full amount plus interest.