No formula milk available from foodbanks

[CaraDuneRedux]

Times article:
www.thetimes.co.uk/edition/news/food-banks-ban-on-formula-leaves-babies-to-go-hungry-tcghd25gm

Maybe someone cleverer than I am can do the share token.

But in a nutshell, in order to follow Unicef guidelines, food banks like the Trussell Trust are refusing donations of formula, so as not to be guilty of encouraging women to give up breast feeding.

Note that we are not talking about the infamous bad old days of formula companies handing out free samples on post natal wards so that women never start to breast feed.

We are talking about families where a decision has already been made to use formula, and where the mother's milk has therefore stopped, who then find due to change in circumstance (eg. job loss during the pandemic) that they are unable to feed their babies. They can't magically restart breastfeeding at this point - the choice (given the 5 week delay between starting a UC claim and receiving the first payment) is formula or starvation.

Are others as horrified by this box-ticking piece of insanity as I am? What can we do? How do we exert pressure on the foodbanks to get them to help the people they were set up to help (rather than pursuing some Unicef-approved tick of self-righteousness)?

A huge part of this problem is when you allow food banks to be such a big provider to those in need rather than adequate welfare or wages. Allow? That would be society, you me, everybody that allows this to happen!

Having said that the Unicef guidelines are problematic when it comes to food banks, particularly for established formala fed babies. It is problematic but, as others who also work in food banks have said, we signpost to places that do give formula - and the woman in that piece went to one such local baby charity... who knows how she found out about it? Maybe someone in the food bank told her where it was...

For those saying that Health Visitors give you formula vouchers etc, there's definitely a lack of awareness about this. I've had two babies and I never knew that. Healthy Start exists since 2006, it took over from the more Dickensian sounding Welfare Food Scheme. Any woman 10 weeks pregnant or more, in receipt of any benefit, can qualify for the vouchers, advice etc etc

Thank goodness I was lucky enough that we could afford to feed them. Yes! And those who cannot need the best advice and support they can get. That is not the remit of a food bank!

I thought the lady in the article was brave for speaking out. About what? Not being given semthing by a charity that does not give that something out? For having been signposted to somehwere that does?

The article sets out to demonise food banks and Unicef a bit! Ooh look they let starving babies starve! We/they do not! There have been many covid adjustments, many new working relationships just as there have been many new clients.

Think about it Why would a food bank want babies to starve? Why would Unicef?

Answer: We don't. We just want to ensure that they get the most suitable nitrition and are aware that we are not knowledgeable for that. Let alone have the storage space,or financial abilty to but formula in quantity enough to ensure that despite use by dates, variety of formula, number of times we are actually asked for it, we would have exactly right tub of stuff for anyone who did ask!

Sorry @IrishMamaMia But 200+ posts in and it feels as though nobody actually wants to listen to how/why food banks make such decisions. Just wanting to make them part of a problem, find someone else to take a pop at, make themselves feel better!

@CuriousaboutSamphire I'm sorry but you're really internalising my post and making it something about food banks that it isn't. I have no issue with food banks but I think this woman was in a terrible bind and you agree yourself the unicef guidelines are problematic.

Yep! Of course I am, and apologised for doing so!

Is that not allowed?

Is finding the premise of the article and this thread to be based on misinformation something I shouldn't post about?

you agree yourself the unicef guidelines are problematic. Context, FFS!

You sound very angry @CuriousaboutSamphire It's obvious you're passionate about food banks and fair play but I don't think you're doing yourself any favours.

I get that BUT...

... why do you think that? After all of the explanations given here why do you think that foodbanks SHOULD be doing something they simply are not set up for?

I just don't understand that! Let alone the deliberate misinformation in the article that started this!

amp.theguardian.com/society/2020/nov/10/half-term-hardship-and-heartbreak-one-month-in-the-life-of-a-food-bank-manager

Please read this

The foodbank I work at (trussel trust affiliated) does give out formula milk. We don’t get very much donated though, and there isn’t huge demand as there are other, better routes for parents to get it if in need.

There's nothing to stop someone putting formula milk in their bundle to go to the foodbank if they want, someone will snap it up. However food banks don't supply every single thing you can think of and formula is available elsewhere.

I have read the thread with interest.

We (Glasgow South West Foodbank) are part of the Trussell Trust network and an independent charity.

We accept donations of formula. Sealed tins only - we don’t accept open containers of any foodstuffs.

We would give these to a parent/carer only if it was the brand already being used). We have been contacted by local NHS and they are happy with our approach.

We provide nappies and wipes.

There is another question looming here. Why can’t parents/carers afford to feed their babies?

@Charleyhorses

Yes a cash donation is always preferred. At Christmas food banks get so much food, which is appreciated, but money in the bank enables them to buy specific items at other times of the year.