AIBU to be miffed about Chester Zoo?

I could afford to take my kids and wouldn’t expect to receive a subsidy as I’m on a good income so I’ve no skin in the game. I also think where disability is involved there are perhaps different considerations.

Disability aside, i think all the people getting sanctimonious with OP aren’t really engaging with the resentment which is not unreasonably caused when people working full time and earning too much to be able to receive state welfare are unable to afford to do something which others are given for free (or £1). That’s not levelling the playing field. That’s lifting those on welfare benefits ABOVE those who exceed the cut off.

Of course there are all sorts of reasons why people might either not work or work part time and be in receipt of UC. Some of these reasons are more legitimate than others so it’s complex, but it shouldn’t be hard for anyone to see why people struggling financially and unable to afford the zoo but not able to access this offer feel sore about it and that they are being punished for hard work.

Oh I know quite a number of people who not only do this but brag about it

And several in my department who refuse all my offers to (permanently) increase their hours

I've never claimed benefits despite having been VERY poor and struggling in the 90s/2000s when I had my son and his useless dad buggered off. I've worked since I was 21, so around 30 years.

But this scheme doesn't bother me in the slightest. If it teaches kids to respect animals then I'm all for it. Zoos give me the ick though as I'm an animal lover.

It's not, it's a fact I see regularly both in my own friendship groups and through my work.
Don't try and deny the reality many people live with.
Among my friends who aren't wealthy the only people I know still managing regular day trips etc are those who get benefits.
Everyone else (bar those on high incomes) has cut every cost to the bone

Ironically Chester's scheme, which is the first I've seen anyone complain about on here, is extremely limited in comparison to most of the schemes of this type.

It's literally for two weeks, and is a charity scheme that includes people on PIP and DLA, which most of them don't.

Not the point of the thread I know but have you considered getting membership at a place like a zoo OP? Yes it’s an expensive outlay but works out much, MUCH cheaper per visit. We pick one place a year to get membership at and then basically that is our paid for day out place for that year, any other days out we just do for free (mainly national trust when they do their free vouchers). We are currently spending £20 a month for one adult and two kids to go to our local zoo (you get free visits to other zoos around the country too) so we go once a month and take a picnic, great day out for £20 as it includes a soft play too. We also ask for money towards membership for places as Christmas presents too or days out tickets / vouchers.

No, you don't. UC doesn't work like that.

Do you think those on benefits have always been on benefits?

I know what it's like and I much preferred my life without having to rely on benefits.

... you know thats a narrative fed to you by billionaires who openly discuss driving a 'common enemy' narrative to make money, right? They literally sit in rooms and discuss it as a tactic. And then they make 1 out of a 100 people look like 99 out of 100 people. You are being manipulated, to make billionaires money.
Im not denying there are some people who do it as a choice, having grown up surrounded by poor families, but the idea its a MAJORITY is so wrong I dont even know where to start.

London zoo has been doing this for years

You’re right, poor people don’t deserve zoos. They should look at pictures on the in the library.

It's really not selfish.
The people I know who claim benefits are now pretty much the only people I know managing regular theatre trips and days out. Most people have had to give them up as taxation and price rises squeeze ever tighter.

Don’t be so selfish ffs

Exactly this.
People lecturing op have no idea what is like to be just above the benefits threshold and struggling every day but no eligible for any help and yet knowing that your taxes (and entrance fees) are subsidising others with basically the same disposable income as you (possibly even much more disposable income judging by the lives of people I know who get.benefits)

As a nation we need to stop squishing down the noises from those who are being broken by taxation and cost of living yet get no help.

No, I didn’t save it, was just something that popped up while doom scrolling!

Do you have a link to the video?

I totally get what you mean. The people who work hard and get absolutely nothing for free. Of course there are people who work hard who receive benefits too, but for the ones who don’t get anything at all it is a kick in the teeth to know they have to pay for everything to supplement those who don’t. I saw a video earlier of a woman crying about working and claiming UC and ONLY having £600 left a month after all of her bills etc are paid. There are plenty of people not on benefits who don’t have that much left each month

@OneGreySeal
newsflash
working people on UC pay taxes too!

I pay more in taxes than I receive in UC.
If it was still called working tax credit maybe attitudes would be different.

Off to book now using my PIP. I mean if you want my incurable cancer, I will happily ditch the PIP, get back to work and you would have no reason to grumble??

Calm down. Half the population is on UC and the other half is being taxed to death to keep them on UC and other benefits. There is a massive inequality here and op is right to be frustrated. We know very well that although there are many who genuinely need and deserve the income top up for vast majority it’s a lifestyle choice.

Also no members are subsiding this. The zoo will be making money from it (hence doing it at a quiet time of year)

Must be fun to live in your head!

Why? What about the animals that helps pay for?

It's only for December

It's part of a charity scheme, not a regular thing for Chester

Yabu to go to a zoo