To ask how long you think food banks should support people for?

[tartanbaker]

I help to run an independent food bank, & we currently support over 100 families. We are nearing our capacity (in terms of numbers we can help) due to limited storage etc, but there are new people applying all the time. We give people food every week, and some families have been registered with us for about 2 years now. They are still needy, and we all know that things are going to continue being tough for the foreseeable future, so my question is…if you were to donate to a food bank, how would you want them to use your food/money? Continuing to help everyone for as long as they ask for help, even though it might mean turning others away? Or telling existing families who rely on you that you can’t help them any more because you are going to help new people now? It’s so hard, and an ongoing debate we are having, and I’d be really interested to hear other people’s opinions. Both options seem really tough….

I think that was a reasonable rule with sensible intentions, but things are different from what they were. There is no way out of food poverty for some of these people. They are already managing what little money they have as effectively as they can, and there is no prospect of them increasing their income in the immediate future. So what are they supposed to do?

Genuinely some people will and do need help more and more. Food waste is also a huge issue. I really sympathise with the real needy cases who literally are between heat and food and real hand to mouth. However I agree that money counselling is important so that mismanagement doesn’t happen. Getting your food for free as it’s spent on booze and fags is not the idea. However I’m sure the majority of cases don’t do this.

How are you going to do that though? There's no amount people spend on gas and electric for starters.

People don't have the same cooking facilities so a food allowance would have to take all that into account.

A better system would be to overhaul the benefits system in a way that doesn't leave people needing foodbanks. And preferably without stupid moves like 5 week waits, shit computer systems that make repeated errors, and the constant assumption that people are taking the piss.

Especially shortly after the peak of a global pandemic where jobs went and the cost of living soared.

Given that you say yourself the majority of cases don't do that why even trot out such a trope?

@Peppapigforlife pip stands for personal independents payments and is given to people who are disabled to the extent that without these payments they would not be able to access the outside world. So, if you are eligible for this you should use it to improve your life, if not, I don’t think you should begrudge people who do need it. The criteria for pip is notoriously hard and if you Google it you will find many examples of people who died because they were allegedly unable to access pip or has their pip stopped incorrectly.

One idea might be to reduce the list that people choose from to only seasonal veg and whatever meat is on sale that week . In awe at your kindness OP. I'd take new applicants with children if at all possible.

People shouldn't have 'just enough' to live on, universal basic income has been proven to improve many aspects of a person's life. They're far more likely to spend money to stimulate the economy as they know they're guaranteed an income. They're more likely to return to education as they have a stable income. They eat better, get out more and overall have better incomes than those on 'just enough' that could be taken away at any time because you missed an appointment as your bus didn't show up. 'just enough' shouldn't be the standard we're striving for when people are in need.

It is a really tough decision but the first step is take is to stop sending out order forms. It’s lovely that you are giving people a choice but if they receive the form, they’ll fill it out whether they need it or not. Then I’d sadly reduce the quality of food you’re buying ie tinned fruit and veg etc. I’d rather give more people the basics. Then if that still wasn’t enough, I’d look at it on a case by case basis and prioritise those with no income which will probably be new referrals who are waiting for benefits. I’m sorry but if you have income, you need to prioritise food just like the rest of us have to regardless of what else is going on in your life.

People don't have the same cooking facilities so a food allowance would have to take all that into account.*

the vast majority have a cooker, hobs and fridge and if you do t then it's more than food bank help you need.

A better system would be to overhaul the benefits system in a way that doesn't leave people needing foodbanks. And preferably without stupid moves like 5 week waits, shit computer systems that make repeated errors, and the constant assumption that people are taking the piss.

It's funny, I have a full time job. I get paid once a month. If I start a new job I won't be paid for the first four weeks until my wage arrives.

We need benefits to be enough to sustain you for a time limited period until your circumstances change.

Yes - your gap for not being paid will be covered by your last wage in your previous job. That doesn't always happen when moving from one benefit to another. Or when you get made redundant unexpectedly and don't get paid.

If it was as simple as you were making out then it wouldn't be an issue. Given it is then it's clearly not so simple

the vast majority have a cooker, hobs and fridge and if you do t then it's more than food bank help you need.

And your one-size-fits-all system would have to take into account those that don't.

Those in temp accommodation, those without facilities, those with disabilites that can't use certain things (given how many are having to wait huge times fo disability payments), those without enough electric or gas to run all of those.

We regularly do kettle packs for people with no cooking facilities

Crikey. B&H Silver are £12.40 for a pack of 20. Source : Tesco.com. That’s £80 a week on cigarettes. Eighty Pounds! That is actually more than we, as a comfortably off household, spend on groceries in a week. Staggering.

I think we need to bear in mind the nature of addiction and some of the reasons that addictions develop and are maintained. There but by the grace of god etc… having worked with families for a very long time it’s incredibly complex. You can’t make assumptions or judgements without getting to know more about the causes of poverty, addiction etc.

That’s a worrying binary.

Lots of people are now suffering from long term poverty. Benefits no longer necessarily cover modest housing costs.

Why do you conceptualise it as short term emergencies v “lifestyle choice”?

Not everybody has the latitude to improve their circumstances.

there should be a max times someone can use a foodbank in a timeframe like everyone can only use the bank once a month etc

It’s almost insoluble OP. The government should be formulating better policy but this one have deliberately thrown millions into poverty.

Could you run a compromise model that client can receive up to X weeks’ worth of help on any calendar year but once that has run out they can’t receive anything else that year? (Or some staggered policy that prevents a January stampede.)

i remember once i had to just starve for 4 days as had no money and couldnt get a foodbank. 2 weeksater i hear someone joking about getting a foodbank so they can buy fags and beer.

I know food banks are voluntary and volunteers are amazing.

Whilst I think the concept of the foodbank is sound I think they should be used for emergencies and I do not think they should be used long term by a family or individual. I think that it creates dependancy. Whilst I have given in the past to foodbanks I was put off seeing and hearing of people who used them but who used their income to purchase what would I would view as luxury items ie phones, computer games etc. Of course it is a matter of choice but this has put me off donating

It's interesting how many assumptions and common myths there are on the thread.

A very large number of people who use our uniform and baby bank also use the food bank, especially on the first referral. Last year was the first year that our numbers actually showed more 'in work' people being referred than out of work.

The whole 'people choosing to live on benefits and have big tvs and iphones' thing is bollocks. It's much more complex than that.

Honestly, this thread has been a massive eye opener about how unaware most people are of what real poverty is and how little agency they might have in their own lives.

If you don't want to donate then don't but don't start judging people of being worthy or unworthy of food or any kind of benefits just because some people abuse it. There's enough limitations as it is. It's a move backwards and is reminiscent of the Victorian deserving and undeserving poor, those worthy and unworthy of our help. If people need help then they need help even if it's just a one off due to an unexpectedly large bill or long term due to homelessness/abuse/rising costs/disability/addiction. Of course food banks shouldn't exist but they are currently the only way for some people to get enough to eat in the UK in 2022!

Some people will always take advantage but I'm certain anyone who volunteers at a food bank will attest to most of the users being in need.

Brieandcamembert's attitude is quite frankly disgusting. Proposing taking away autonomy from people who are already in situations causing them low morale. Honestly, some people won't be happy until they bring back workhouses..

As long as they need it, of course.
I fail to see why this needs questioning, people can't survive without food.

Thank you for starting this thread. I am an adviser for a foodbank helpline. We work in partnership with a national foodbank chain and act as an advisory service so we assess a client's needs, see how they might improve their situation and offer food vouchers. There are occasions when we have to say no. Generally when more than 6 vouchers have been issued in 6 months and there has been no engagement with the advice offered. But I have issued vouchers when a client has had multiple vouchers but have no recourse to public funds and no options to improve their finances. It should be that all foodbanks strive to not have to exist. That is the idea behind the helpline I work for but there is a long road ahead

There are no quick fixes.