Foodbank usage

[Mrskeats]

Hard hat on.
First of all I regularly give to food banks; especially now when there is so much need.
Aibu to think that if you have about £2500 per month and very few bills for this one adult and one child you don't need to be using one? House bought outright also.
This is someone that know well. Very surprised they feel entitled to use them.

£2500 is their income; nothing to do with the current situation

You mean your vp husband pays £2500 in maintenance?

Just get to your point op.

What does VP mean?

Vice President, I think (but not Mike Pence )

Ok thank you!

Why are you going on about maintenance?
Nothing to do with this thread.

I am talking about a close friend btw

Not entirely sure why people are annoyed at you op.

If anyone here knew of someone that owned a house outright, so very little in terms of money going out, got a large wage each month, and yet used a food bank, I think they would judge said person.

I guess they do it for reasons like all the rich do: they are rich because they don't spend their money. Getting food from a food bank is free. So no money leaving their account.

Can't think why anyone would think that's OK? Are there many people on here doing this and they don't like being called out on it?

Could have just add a few comments? I volunteer / work in a community based food bank, not a Trussell so may have a different experience/info.

Trussell banks have had an alarmingly large upsurge but much of it is because smaller banks, many of which are church based, have older volunteers, have had to close.

Referrals have been relaxed, many banks would rather feed a few 'unworthy' recipients than miss out on any in real need.

At the moment many seemingly affluent people don't have access to cash or credit. They are possibly temporarily unable to buy food. All food banks are set up to help anyone in such a predicament. We don't feed people for long periods of time. Other organizations do that.

Don't judge. Don't fret. The food bank concerned will cope and won't begrudge the aid given. No volunteer who thinks like that lasts long, that sort of resentment makes volunteering very difficult to cope with.

I'm interested in all the people saying about how referrals etc. are needed - surely you're just asked a few questions and it's all taken on trust?

One thing I've known to be true is that some Food Bank's "statistic gathering" can be ropey at best.

I live in an area that rolled out the trial version of UC (live service) for single people only. The DWP halted roll out of this, and it was approximately 18 months before the full service version of UC rolled out. In this time there was a sudden, random outcry in the local press about increases in food bank usage, UC putting people into hardship, horror stories about months of waiting etc etc.

Not one of the people featured were on UC and it transpired that having had recent "training" the volunteers were selecting UC delays on almost all of the referrals.

In normal times we only take people who have been referred. Referrers are many and varied from schools to health visitors, doctors to vicars. Trussells have their own list of referrers too.

But no food bank would just dismiss someone who turned up, we ask questions and back refer them. Yes, we are likely to hand over an emergency bag but only once. Again there are, for us, some exceptions, but that is because we are part of a wider community project

Thank you truth
Il remember years ago a friend lived in a massive house and her mum used to go to our tennis club to cook food to save and on gas! Unbelievable.

I am talking about a close friend btw

I would love to hear you talk about your enemies...

Poppi89- Does no one ever comment on these Facebook posts about them mismanaging money?

• Do they have SEN that means they can’t understand how to budget?

Meh, some places don’t care about your circumstances and just want to give food away to make themselves feel good.

Sikh temples feed absolutely anyone, and practically insist that you accept food. You can eat there 3 times a day if you want and save a lot of money on having to do a weekly shop.

WitchesGlove - No that's what I don't understand - but they seem to have friends who are all the same. I have never commented because I'm worried it would look really insensitive. But they got £150 school uniform voucher and then said because they saved that money they were going to splurge and brought a big BBQ with loads of alcohol.

I definitely think SEN is there because they share quite personal things about their kids ( a photo of the girl crying and said its because they can't afford sanitary products - I reported that) but then they get people offering them money so maybe they are scammers. But if it was SEN surely they would have been picked up by now or someone shows them how to manage their money better so it lasts the month?

I wouldn’t mind betting my neighbours think I’m all fine and dandy in my house, however, the reality is very different, I cannot tell you the sheet mortification and humiliation I have during Covid as the food bank had to come to me, in a sign written van, so now they all know, and I wouldn’t mind betting they are judging me too.

Are you sure it’s a food bank and not a community larder? Here anyone can use a community larder

No-one is judging you! I promise!

There is a worldwide pandemic - those who have been comfortable their whole lives have suddenly found themselves with no income.

I think it is insensitive that the van has the name on it though!

The family I am referring to has been like it for a long time - I have been off FB for months.

No-one would judge anyone for needing to use a food bank at any time. I have been close to needing one multiple times because the change to UC meant child tax credits stopped so my income was lower than my outgoings.

Please don't ever feel ashamed as that is exactly what it is there for. I donate so people like you can have that relief that they can feed their kids and still have electricity.

OP, why are you being a judgey bugger? Every time someone reports a thing like this, donations to foodbanks plummet.

I bet the OP votes Tory

No-one is judging you! I promise!

Says the poster viciously judging another family. The irony.

@ducksback - yes I judge anyone who abuses a system designed for those in need.

There are only a limited amount of resources available and yet people who genuinely don't need them are taking them. Leaving those with the greatest need with nothing.

It is people like that, which means benefits are constantly getting cut meaning more people are struggling and other people have a stereotypical view that those on benefits are somehow far better off than those who work.

So yes I will admit I judge those who abuse the system.

@ducksback

And what would you do if you knew someone doing this? Would you think that's wrong? Would you applaud them? Or would you just seemingly have no reaction at all, like you expect everyone else to react?

I don't believe you wouldn't even think they were wrong. Maybe you are just that kind of person, meaning you're no better than someone who is effectively stealing from the poor. Someone else could use that food, someone who has no money, who has had to leave a violent partner, who is homeless. But would you actually, really, feel nothing at all, to that kind of person who has money, no reason to use a food bank, and yet does?

Do you really lack that much humanity?

If anyone here knew of someone that owned a house outright, so very little in terms of money going out

I don’t have a mortgage. I do have all the usual bills, including childcare (that at its peak topped £1k a month). Plenty of money going out. Why would you think otherwise?