To think this is a bad way to spend £1000 community care grant

[milliec]

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there's a mssive difference between checking out benefit claims before isue and afterwards.

And no we're nto the same eprson, i don't namechange, but I think Elizabeth and I think somewhat similarly and this si a public forum

i know nothing of Governmental departments, only having worked for Inland Revenue, within the education sector and the NHS before moving into the third sector

I didn't own a colander for years - I had a sieve and it served for colander and sieve (alternatively just put a lid/plate on top of the pan and pour water out

pretty much what i'm doing QofQ, although the sieve we have is too small for the industrial amounts we have to cook these days for our lot LOL - I wasn't complaining btw, it isnt something that bothers me.

"If you had to deal with the claimant as part of you job, what would you say to her ?"

I think I have answered this already but if you missed it I'll try and do it more clearly:

If she was entitled to a grant - "I'm sorry your house burned down, here's the money you are entitled to"

If she wasn't entitled to a grant - "I'm sorry your house burned down, unfortunately we are unable to award you any money however here are some charities/freecycling people who may help you" (pretty much like the OP did)

What I wouldn't do would be to come on to Mumsnet and tell everybody her story and invite people to condemn her as they've done here. Like Peachy says, we have no idea why she spent the money the way she did.

As for the idea that trusting people enough to spend money wisely is the same as just handing it out to anybody who asks that's ridiculous. And with regards to assertion that governments always spend money sensibly I say to you PFI (a billion pound off-balance sheet scandal that we will be paying for for decades) and direct you back up thread to Sir John Bourn and his £390k expense account. If he's doing it, he won't be the only one.

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sounds like she appreciated your honesty! I'm glad things worked out ok.

Good news Milliec

Its nice to hear that the lady's kids now have beds and somewhere to store their clothes/do their homework.

This has inspired me to ensure that in future I offer any unwanted stuff on freecycle before chucking them out.

Good news- and the fact she picked out a desk for homework shows her to be OK in relaity (have come across a fir few Mums who'd put anything before schoolwork!)

Well done millie, keep up the good work. She probably just got a bit excited and carried away.