No more free school meal vouchers?

[dottydotterson]

What do you think of the governments decision to end the free school meal vouchers for the summer? Do you agree or not?

@WitchesGlove

Rashboy-

You make a good point- none of us know what will happen in the future- which is why you don’t go and have 4 kids!!!

More people should go on the implant to prevent it. Less unplanned pregnancy = less hungry, malnourished children.

So what is the safe number of kids based on all future statistical models around pandemics, recessions and zombie apocalypses?

lyralala
3ismylot

I am shocked that so many think because others are struggling that it is reasonable to REDUCE state help rather than INCREASE it!

And there you go again!! No one is suggesting reducing anything! There has been an increase to UC which, unless you are already receiving 20K in benefits and have hit the cap, you will have received. On top of that, there has been fsm vouchers for half term and Easter holiday. This is extra to what you would normally have to afford so not reducing anything.

It’s not about a race to the bottom ...... Someone has to pay for all this! I’m merely offering my opinion that asking families in receipt of fsm who have already had a small helping hand over half terms and Easter and possibly through the benefit rise, could pay for their family’s food over the six weeks they’d ordinarily have to.

@Disillusioned11

lyralala 3ismylot

I am shocked that so many think because others are struggling that it is reasonable to REDUCE state help rather than INCREASE it!

And there you go again!! No one is suggesting reducing anything! There has been an increase to UC which, unless you are already receiving 20K in benefits and have hit the cap, you will have received. On top of that, there has been fsm vouchers for half term and Easter holiday. This is extra to what you would normally have to afford so not reducing anything.

It’s not about a race to the bottom ...... Someone has to pay for all this! I’m merely offering my opinion that asking families in receipt of fsm who have already had a small helping hand over half terms and Easter and possibly through the benefit rise, could pay for their family’s food over the six weeks they’d ordinarily have to.

You are ignoring the fact that many, many children will have accessed lunches during the school holidays over the last few years. Help that they cannot access this year. So it is a reduction in real terms.

You're also conveniently ignoring that there has been calls, repeatedly, for years that that help should be nationwide because of the holiday hunger issue that happens when people don't have access to outside help.

If all they do all day is actually stare at screens, will it really harm them to miss the odd meal? When was the last time you saw a malnourished child?

Yes it would because each missed meal is lost nutrients. As for seeing a malnourished child, they don't come with a label but I expect I meet malnourished parents often, I know one who eats no fruit or vegetables and no meat as they give it all to their children, for example cooking a bolognese with meat and vegetables without using a jar of sauce but then only eating the spaghetti themselves to make the meal go further.

@WhatWouldYouDoWhatWouldJesusDo

In all honesty I've been on benefits with DC at home and have friends who have too.......we also had a mortgage to pay so had less, disposable income than most. We never struggled to pay for food. We couldn't afford luxuries or takeaways but we never went without. My friends who have been through the same have the same experiences.

Unless there's a real and understandable reason as in benefit sanctions and delays or a huge unexpected bill I think we need to start questioning why so many people claim they can't afford to feed their kids and why some arent able to prioritise that need. I fully expect to get pounded on for saying this but meh.

It's obviously an issue that needs addressing to help break the cycle of food poverty and the real worry that must bring
to children and theyre families instead of just patching up with free food and vouchers.

Absolutely I think there’s genuine people in need but a lot of people taking the piss. Also it’s funny how it’s only one side that gets told too. People work all week for NMW and don’t have much left over after bills. I can understand how some don’t bother going to work. I’ve looked at UC and it’s not a life of poverty like we are in a 3rd world Country. Some people live a better life than those who go to work.

@CoronaIsComing

There should be help for children who don’t have enough to eat this summer and every summer but it’s not as simple as just handing over more money to parents.

The fact is that some parents won’t use the money for their children. And some families on UC don’t need anything extra so it needs to be more targeted. I have a family member who’s been posting their takeaways, afternoon tea hampers and ridiculously over priced sweet boxes all over FB. She’s currently getting £45 a week in food vouchers 🤨

The councils need to open buildings and run lunch clubs to make sure that food actually gets into the mouths of those who actually need it.

This

@WitchesGlove

Smallsteps- I’m not actually against the vouchers, I’m just saying that there aren’t many skin and bones kids around, so maybe multivitamins would be better.

Oh, and advising people like the parents of the footballer not to have 4 kids! Seriously, most people who are quite well off can only afford two. Better contraception should be pushed.

For the millionth time- malnourishment does not always mean skin and bone. A multivitamin will not automatically solve the solution either! Not every child will be deficient in every nutrient and so taking a multivitamin will throw out the homeostasis. With some nutrients, the balance is more important than the individual intake. It isn't always a case that parents in receipt of FSM cannot afford to feed their children, but they cannot afford to feed them well, others cannot afford the electric needed to cook nutritious food, others live in food deserts that mean they have to travel (usually on public transport which is expensive as a family) to buy food at affordable prices. The need to help these people during the summer holiday has NOT arisen because of the pandemic, this has been an issues for many, many years. The difference THIS year is that the pandemic has either overloaded or completely removed a number of food banks and play schemes that prop up these families, the vouchers being extended are simply to help replace those efforts.

With some families, yes, it would be better to provide the meals directly to the children rather than give additional funding and yes, some feckless parents will use the extra money for their own benefit and the children will still go hungry, HOWEVER, MOST families will not do that and due to the pandemic it is not possible for places to just spring up and cook and serve these meals, otherwise the playschemes would still run and the vouchers wouldn't be being issued.

You are also assuming that everyone in receipt of benefits cannot afford children in the first place, when most are victims of circumstance. Others are in abusive relationships where they do not CHOOSE to have multiple children or a partner withholds finances, there will also be a lot more on the breadline after lockdown due to job losses. You cannot tar every person on benefits with the same brush, everyone ends up on them for different reasons and many through no fault of their own.

No one should go hungry in this country. I agree that there are probably abusing the system. However before this pandemic we had massive problems with child poverty but it’s not the children’s fault. As a country we are in so much debt the amount is a drop in the ocean. So if it means children can eat I don’t think there is a choice.

For those making judgements please volunteer at your local food bank and see the reality of having no food to feed your family. They have had a life change which means they need help and not people criticising what has happened to them. How long could you manage if you lost your job, benefits were slow in being paid, then the washing machine broke, difficulties in finding a new job when employers are making loads of redundancies etc.

The majority of people with DC’s in fsm are not bad money managers, don’t have low education and skills or spend their benefits of drink and cigarettes . For all you know your job could be the next to be cut and you would be in the same position.

This thread has shown that there are some incredibly judgemental and uncaring people. I hope your DC’s turn out better.

@Parker231 definitely, until people go and experience it first hand and meet the REAL people using food banks rather than the media's distorted version of who uses food banks, many will struggle to understand.
The majority of people in poverty never thought they would end up there either, it could happen to anyone if circumstances are out of their control.

But the major point is no matter why parents end up in poverty, it is not the CHILD'S fault and they should not be punished!

@lyralalala probably because I know people who are getting them that are full on taking the piss. Getting takeaways, a new foot spa and new playstation as they are saving money now as they get the vouchers (they said this not me and it's not just 1 person). Its great for the people that need them though.

Some people live a better life than those who go to work.

Sure they do

Witchesglove is Katie Hopkins. Ignore her. She’s trolling.

Take comfort in the fact that the majority of people are decent humans who do not get upset about children getting extra support.

At least this one has a happy ending thanks to Marcus

One of the reasons for child obesity is that healthy food is much more expensive. So they tend to fill up on junk food.

[quote ToBBQorNotToBBQ]@lyralalala probably because I know people who are getting them that are full on taking the piss. Getting takeaways, a new foot spa and new playstation as they are saving money now as they get the vouchers (they said this not me and it's not just 1 person). Its great for the people that need them though.[/quote]
A new foot spa?! Are these your friends from 1995 or is that the only luxury item you could dream up quickly?!

For future reference, in 2020 we get angry at the feckless benefits claimants for large TVs, sky sports, tattoos, gel nails, hair extensions and fake tans. HTH

I read some of Katie Hopkins Twitter posts - disgusting person!

Hopkins really is the most disgusting, wrinkled, bitter prune .....love how it’s women who can’t afford their children!

I’ve looked at UC and it’s not a life of poverty like we are in a 3rd world Country. Some people live a better life than those who go to work I love statements like this- if it’s such a great, lucrative lifestyle then how come more of us aren’t quitting our jobs to sign on?
Might it be because despite the brother of your window cleaner who holidays 6 times a year on UC that it’s actually a struggling, soul destroying way to live.

@OnlyFoolsnMothers

I’ve looked at UC and it’s not a life of poverty like we are in a 3rd world Country. Some people live a better life than those who go to work I love statements like this- if it’s such a great, lucrative lifestyle then how come more of us aren’t quitting our jobs to sign on? Might it be because despite the brother of your window cleaner who holidays 6 times a year on UC that it’s actually a struggling, soul destroying way to live.

Many mothers do! I have friends that have said it’s not worth after CHILDCARE and travel expense.

Also what about the single mothers paying full CT on a part time salary & rent/mortgage. It’s like single parents get forgotten about.

A lot of people work and they are that much better off. Because long term it will pay when the kids get older.

@JustAnotherPoster00

Some people live a better life than those who go to work.

Sure they do

So do you account for all the single mothers

There’s a nasty undertone of misogyny on this thread. It’s single mothers being mentioned not fathers, when contraception is mentioned it’s talk of the implant not vasectomies.

The majority of resident single parents will be receiving maintenance payments by law. These payments aren’t means tested against benefit payments as far as I’m aware.

Some of the people on this thread are so short sighted.
Poverty and child hunger MAY lead to poorer outcomes for these children, perhaps entering a life of crime, having serious health conditions or a lack of education that means they are never able to contribute to society (not saying in all cases, Marcus Rashford is a prime example, but many will be disadvantaged and have poorer outcomes).
If you are too heartless to give a shit about starving children, maybe look at the bigger picture and think about the society you want for your own children as adults. Investing in children in all aspects is the only way we will ever make the UK the type of place that it should be as one of the worlds richest nations.
And if you are so far up your own arse that you won’t think it will affect your little darlings, think about them getting robbed at the station as they wait for the train to go to the theatre, or the extra tax they will have to pay to the NHS that will come from the chronic conditions childhood obesity may bring. Or in an extreme case, being stabbed to death as they walk home from a naice restaurant by the adult with severe mental health problems stemming from that summer when all they could think about was whether they would be fed that day. This isn’t about us and them, this is about all of us, as a society.
Marcus Rashford deserves a knighthood for this.

Just as a note to a PP - maintenance payments are the flimsiest, pathetically administered and insulting crock of shit ever invented.
I will get more (if) I get a school meal payments than I get in child maintenance.
Perhaps the misogyny and anger should be directed at the CMS, many women would not be in poverty if the men paid their fair share.
The amount of thinly veiled bitterness on this thread is shocking - women are not solely responsible for children nor should they get 100% blame for men’s shitty behaviour.
Whilst you type from your ivory towers bear in mind, no one is immune from falling on hard times, so stop being so thick.

My DD1's father owes me over TEN THOUSAND pounds in maintenance. We will never see a penny.

Where's the hate directed towards fuckwits like that