Page 11 | To wonder WHY parents can't afford to feed their kids isn't being addressed?

PurpleTrilby · 26/10/2020 23:44

Because darling, it would mean addressing the fundamental flaws of capitalism. Mainly why full time jobs don't provide enough income to actually fucking live. Rather than only survive. Why does a cleaner get paid less than an office worker? Hm? It's fucked and it's going to get worse. Especially if people keep voting fucking Tory. Do that and you're declaring your hate for humanity. Capiche?

Thewithesarehere · 27/10/2020 00:03

@CrimsonCattery

Didn't you realise OP its all those feckless low income parents refusing to sell their pearls to feed their kids?

According to this MP anyway...

I have no words. Pearls? Handbags? Which world is he from?

SandyY2K · 27/10/2020 01:05

Affordable childcare would help immensely, to be honest. If people could have subsidised nursery places (more than the 30 free hours when the child is older), they'd be more inclined to go back to work full time. Therefore, earning more and needing less benefits.

100% right. Childcare costs are ridiculous. There should be a cap on how much nurseries can charge.

I think if you were to research a bit you would find there is a link between low income and the ability to access and manage family planning, and to deal with ‘accidents’.

Contraception is free...I don't understand what the issue is with accessing the service which you can do via your GP.

I think it's more a matter of education. I agree with the pp...you don't see the very wealthy with lots of children.

My DMs cousin has 10 kids and is poor. She was struggling and always needing help from my DM...my DM took her to get the pill and her DH kicked off saying my DM was trying to dictate his family....well if you can't support your wife, you're living in a less than adequate house and your wife keeps asking me for money to feed your DC...then limiting the number of kids you have is sensible.
DM said this after 5 kids and they went on to double the amount. Absolute stupidity IMO. Subjecting your kids to a life of poverty in this way.

grassisjeweled · 27/10/2020 01:36

We should absolutely be talking about it. To be honest I'm amazed we're not burning the likes of Jeff Bezos at the stake. Wealth inequality has reached such staggering proportions a new French Revolution seems frankly overdue.

^

This. But it has to get worse before it gets better.

People whinging on here is all well and good - but people still vote Tory.

Between the Tories, the Royals and lack of financial accountability from men (re. Child payment) we find ourselves in the mess we're in.

grassisjeweled · 27/10/2020 01:40

Affordable childcare would help immensely, to be honest.

^

I've saying this for at least ten years on here. FREE nursery care from 6 months old. Enables women to work. PLUS, the child gets fed too. And educated.

I live abroad where such a system is offered and it warms my heart to see WOMEN dropping their kids off at nursery, to WOMEN who are working at the nursery.

whatisgoingtohappen · 27/10/2020 04:34

you don't see the very wealthy with lots of children.

I don’t think this is true. The English upper middle-class living in the country / hunting / drive old bangers so maybe times are harder but still come from money lot do have a lot of children IMO.

Or people like the Olivers and the Beckhams.

whatisgoingtohappen · 27/10/2020 04:36

Boris Johnson - comes from a large family - also has lots of children.

Ohmygoodnessbreathe · 27/10/2020 08:06

@WizWoz

The eateries who are offering free food will also be taken advantage of by those who can afford to feed their children but just want free food This is unfortunately true. And the really needy children still won’t get fed because the parents don’t even care enough to take them for free food.

Yes Wiz I was wondering this. It takes a head held high to go ask for some food like this, and also presumes the parent has the awareness and level of care to go source this food for their young children.

I have an image of perfectly well fed teens turning up at these places, “ere mister gimme some chips I’m hungry innit”, whereas a four year old who isn’t looked after particularly well sits at home hungry.

I really admire the businesses that are doing this, and truly hope the generosity gets to the right places.

Ted27 · 27/10/2020 08:24

@SandyY2K

the point is about accessing services and managing family planning, not whether it is free or has a cost
you not understanding why does not change that

SandyY2K · 27/10/2020 08:34

I didn't say it changes it. My point is where everyone has a GP, the argument of accessing contraception doesn't hold water. If their child was sick....they'd have no problem going to their GP...this is no different

If there was a cost...I'd understand it would make sense.

They can't afford food because they have no money...makes sense and is valid.

GETTINGLIKEMYMOTHER · 27/10/2020 08:41

Agreed.
For the same reason I wonder why ‘child poverty’ is so often talked of, when it is surely inseparable from parent poverty.

Jellycatspyjamas · 27/10/2020 08:47

I didn't say it changes it. My point is where everyone has a GP, the argument of accessing contraception doesn't hold water. If their child was sick....they'd have no problem going to their GP...this is no different

Except they probably don’t access primary health care for the most part, for themselves or their child. Formal services can present a barrier to some people on very low incomes - not about cost of the service but about the executive functioning skills needed to get there, or the cost of getting to health appointments etc. Folk will tend to deal with the immediate problem than be able to plan for the longer term.

Namechangeme87 · 27/10/2020 08:54

I have long since been arguing against the idea of the “rolling in it lazy benefits claimant “ brought to you by sensationalized poverty porn documentaries . The zoomed in shots of the latest iPhone Or big screen tv designed to set people off about how can they afford such things ?? Never mind the fact that they will probably be paying 3 pound a week for said items with extortionate interest rates long after they are obsolete / broken .

Perhaps we should look at why people in full time work require a benefits top up to their salary ? So we can prop up businesses profits while they pay their staff the bare minimum ??

The majority of people on benefits are in work as pp have said

But hey let’s just assume the poor are All feckless And just chose not to feed their kids

Ted27 · 27/10/2020 08:59

@SandyY2K

Has it occurred to you that if your cousin tried to stop at 5 and had 10 that she was in an abusive relationship and being forced to have children she did not want.
I think she is probably not the only one.

Livelovebehappy · 27/10/2020 09:10

Have there been any cases where children have actually died of starvation in the U.K.? Apart from cases where there has been abuse? I must admit I really struggle to see why parents cannot afford an extra meal a day during the school holidays. There were a couple on the radio yesterday being interviewed who said they had to do without food this week in order for their two DCs to eat. Both were out of work, and had been for years - one was disabled and the other their carer. Why would they at this point be unable to feed their DCs, when they could pre covid? I get that some parents who have lost their job during covid may struggle, but not ones who are in the same situation that they were pre covid. Also there were local businesses who had started to put on free meals for children yesterday, no questions asked, so free to all, but had zero take up. Is all this starving children thing just something hyped up by Marcus Rashford?

Ted27 · 27/10/2020 09:21

@Livelovebehappy
FfS does a child actually have to die to make you understand there is an issue here.
The issue of FSM during school holidays is not new, there have been campaigns for provision in the holidays for years, it's just gained traction with Covid tipping thousands more families over the edge.
Lack of food and malnutrition have long term serious impacts.

Jellycatspyjamas · 27/10/2020 09:45

Have there been any cases where children have actually died of starvation in the U.K.?

Yes. Go and read significant case reviews into child deaths published by local safeguarding boards if you’re interested, a number of them will include children who have starved - and while there may have been wider parenting issues, lack of available food will be in the mix.

As @Ted27 says though, do we really need dead children before we recognise food poverty as an issue?

GroundAlmonds · 27/10/2020 09:52

@Livelovebehappy

Have there been any cases where children have actually died of starvation in the U.K.? Apart from cases where there has been abuse? I must admit I really struggle to see why parents cannot afford an extra meal a day during the school holidays. There were a couple on the radio yesterday being interviewed who said they had to do without food this week in order for their two DCs to eat. Both were out of work, and had been for years - one was disabled and the other their carer. Why would they at this point be unable to feed their DCs, when they could pre covid? I get that some parents who have lost their job during covid may struggle, but not ones who are in the same situation that they were pre covid. Also there were local businesses who had started to put on free meals for children yesterday, no questions asked, so free to all, but had zero take up. Is all this starving children thing just something hyped up by Marcus Rashford?

Your username doesn’t suit you.

A non-abusive parent is unlikely to sit back and watch their child starve to death, don’t you think? They would seek help. From SS, a church, gurdwara, shul, or charity. That doesn’t mean that poverty isn’t real. ().

The point is that children WERE suffering pre-Covid but it’s a stigmatised issue and parents struggled through and did their best. Now the problem is being recognised and a brave dew are being persuaded to speak up.

Are you really to self-involved to see this?

Love51 · 27/10/2020 09:53

Aside from cases of abuse, children aren't left to starve, parents just don't pay their bills so they might end up homeless. It is horrible to have to make decisions about what bills to pay, but no loving parent would let a child actually starve to death.
I do worry about people with no recourse to public funds - if you have a child can you still be deemed no recourse?

GroundAlmonds · 27/10/2020 09:53

Sorry for typos. The smug ignorance around this is galling.

Jellycatspyjamas · 27/10/2020 09:57

I do worry about people with no recourse to public funds - if you have a child can you still be deemed no recourse?

You can, yes. In reality the local authority may provide minimal funds to feed your child , some charities may provide food or the child might be taken into care.

Watermelon999 · 27/10/2020 09:58

In our area many businesses and individuals have been collecting food and making up packed lunches for people to take for free, no questions asked.

It is advertised all over Facebook, with absolutely tonnes of sandwiches, fruit, cakes, crisps etc.

While I think this is a lovely thing to do (plus good marketing for the business), my question is how do they know how many people need this? What if loads go to waste? How do they target the right demographic?

The other thing is that I thought there was supposed to be a childhood obesity crisis? I’m not being funny, but having fish and chips every day (which has been advertised round here), or crisps, sweets and chocolate which are all in the packed lunches is not going to help this.

GroundAlmonds · 27/10/2020 10:02

While I think this is a lovely thing to do (plus good marketing for the business), my question is how do they know how many people need this? What if loads go to waste? How do they target the right demographic?

Well this is the problem when patchwork voluntary provision has to do the job of government, isn’t it?

Watermelon999 · 27/10/2020 10:02

Basically kids are missing out on 5 lunches over the course of a week....

Loaf of bread £1, bag of 6 apples /pears 40-50p in Aldi, pack of ham or cheese £1-£1.50. Multipack of crisps or biscuits 80p for 6. Water out of tap,

6 lunches = less than £4

I’m sorry but I don’t believe anyone cannot afford this.

Kidneybingo · 27/10/2020 10:02

@Livelovebehappy

Have there been any cases where children have actually died of starvation in the U.K.? Apart from cases where there has been abuse? I must admit I really struggle to see why parents cannot afford an extra meal a day during the school holidays. There were a couple on the radio yesterday being interviewed who said they had to do without food this week in order for their two DCs to eat. Both were out of work, and had been for years - one was disabled and the other their carer. Why would they at this point be unable to feed their DCs, when they could pre covid? I get that some parents who have lost their job during covid may struggle, but not ones who are in the same situation that they were pre covid. Also there were local businesses who had started to put on free meals for children yesterday, no questions asked, so free to all, but had zero take up. Is all this starving children thing just something hyped up by Marcus Rashford?

People feel able to say something now when they would have not wanted to speak about their troubles before. Plus, lots of us have commented on how food prices have risen since Covid. For the poorest, this will be a tipping point.