Society & Culture1 min ago
Food Banks
Apparently even more people are using them now. http://
When something is free, demand will always outstrip supply. Are we saying that if these food banks disappeared, these people would starve to death?
When something is free, demand will always outstrip supply. Are we saying that if these food banks disappeared, these people would starve to death?
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NJ, I like a challenge and will do my best to answer.
Perhaps some who are employed on zero hours, or 8/16/24 hour contracts have had their hours cut for whatever reason by their employer.
Therefore, their take-home pay of, say for arguments sake of £300 per week is now slashed to £150.
Cost of heating and light hasn't halved just because their wages have.
Neither has the cost of any contents/home insurance.
Rent has increased, council tax needs to be paid (allegedly).
Then they still need to have funds available to get to their work.
Even 'cheap' food isn't that cheap.
This isn't to comment on those who have been made redundant after 20/30 years of employment who during those years may also have hit a rough patch and had to use any savings to get them through the rough patch.
for example, being self-employed and the owned vehicle is stolen and burnt out and insurance doesn't match the re-instatement thereof, so any savings are used to get them back onto a 'level-playing field'
Perhaps some who are employed on zero hours, or 8/16/24 hour contracts have had their hours cut for whatever reason by their employer.
Therefore, their take-home pay of, say for arguments sake of £300 per week is now slashed to £150.
Cost of heating and light hasn't halved just because their wages have.
Neither has the cost of any contents/home insurance.
Rent has increased, council tax needs to be paid (allegedly).
Then they still need to have funds available to get to their work.
Even 'cheap' food isn't that cheap.
This isn't to comment on those who have been made redundant after 20/30 years of employment who during those years may also have hit a rough patch and had to use any savings to get them through the rough patch.
for example, being self-employed and the owned vehicle is stolen and burnt out and insurance doesn't match the re-instatement thereof, so any savings are used to get them back onto a 'level-playing field'
the point being its being used as a propaganda tool to beat the current coalition - see the headlines, savage cuts, benefit claimants thrown onto streets, food banks more prevalent, not to say that some people may well be struggling, they could be people who had a decent life before, and now find themselves in dire straights because of illness, redundancy, or death of one partner, it happens
Just exploring the possibilities, ummm and emmie. No arrogance intended. I just find it a bit hard to believe that somebody who has worked for twenty years and who had earned enough to pay income tax and NI for that time finds themself potless immediately they stop work. But I don't understand everybody's circumstances so I'll accept what Mojo says.
This question is all about whether people really need food banks to survive. It is said that the numbers using them have trebled to around one million in the last year or so. Whilst one or two examples of possible scenarios have been presented which may explain some of the additions to Trussell's client list, I'm still struggling to understand how the fortunes of around two thirds of a million people have declined so drastically that they cannot afford to buy all the food they need.
This question is all about whether people really need food banks to survive. It is said that the numbers using them have trebled to around one million in the last year or so. Whilst one or two examples of possible scenarios have been presented which may explain some of the additions to Trussell's client list, I'm still struggling to understand how the fortunes of around two thirds of a million people have declined so drastically that they cannot afford to buy all the food they need.
NJ you don't, take my circumstances, sailing along, ok nothing special just life going on, o/h gets sick, i lost my job though redundancy, mounting bills, to pay for stuff, as you do, money from redundancy, which wasn't much disappeared fast, he went down hill fast, no time to take stock, and then bam, he died, i became ill and everything went tits up thereafter.
I remember about 20 years ago going to the job centre with my friend. Her husband had walked out on her leaving her with a child and no money whatsoever. She filled out the forms and received a cheque the same day to tide her over until her income support kicked in. I don't think that happens anymore.
I do wish that those who seem to have trouble understanding the why's and how's of people needing food banks would just get in touch with the Trussell Trust,or any food bank in their area and speak directly to them.
Yesterday I posted a link to an article regarding use of the foodbank here in Plymouth. Today I met the reporter who wrote it,as she is doing a piece on the charity I work for. At the Trusseell trust she spoken to people who,though they needed food,found it incredibly difficult to ask for help. By and large,these are not scroungers,or folk who are playing the system. They are people who have had bad luck with jobs or relationship breakdowns. People finding themselves with no income because a new job will not pay for a number of weeks,delay in payments of JSA...any number of reasons. People who have the same pride and shame most of us would have if we needed to ask for food.
The charity I work for started out tending the needs of the homeless,but now we are there to help the elderly, immigrants,any vulnerable individuals...and rough sleepers. The need is there,and increasing as more and more fall on rough times.
Yesterday I posted a link to an article regarding use of the foodbank here in Plymouth. Today I met the reporter who wrote it,as she is doing a piece on the charity I work for. At the Trusseell trust she spoken to people who,though they needed food,found it incredibly difficult to ask for help. By and large,these are not scroungers,or folk who are playing the system. They are people who have had bad luck with jobs or relationship breakdowns. People finding themselves with no income because a new job will not pay for a number of weeks,delay in payments of JSA...any number of reasons. People who have the same pride and shame most of us would have if we needed to ask for food.
The charity I work for started out tending the needs of the homeless,but now we are there to help the elderly, immigrants,any vulnerable individuals...and rough sleepers. The need is there,and increasing as more and more fall on rough times.
Quite so. I accept evrything you say. But 650,000 people seem to have suffered similar misfortune in a year or so. That's what I have difficulty believing.
I'll lay my cards on the table then I'll shut up (promise!):
I do not believe one million people in this country need the services that food banks provide. I believe they use them because they are there and they could get by without them.
I further believe there is a concerted effort to make this government (for which I hold no brief whatsoever and whom most people see as a "Tory" government - if only) seem heartless and unconcerned about the plight of poor people. Highlighting the fact that the use of food banks has trebled in a year adds considerable fuel to that argument.
I'll lay my cards on the table then I'll shut up (promise!):
I do not believe one million people in this country need the services that food banks provide. I believe they use them because they are there and they could get by without them.
I further believe there is a concerted effort to make this government (for which I hold no brief whatsoever and whom most people see as a "Tory" government - if only) seem heartless and unconcerned about the plight of poor people. Highlighting the fact that the use of food banks has trebled in a year adds considerable fuel to that argument.
