To say please don’t give money to the Christmas market beggars

[Nutmuncher]

This will seem controversial to some but as someone living in a City centre the Christmas markets attract high numbers of beggars, addicts and alcoholics.

Please do not give them money because it simply encourages them to keep coming back every year in larger numbers. It is frustrating to say the least when you see the same faces sat in the same spots day after day and visitors take pity on them without realising they’re only perpetuating the never ending cycle.

My advice is to instead donate to your local children’s charity or food bank to give to those struggling to provide who aren’t begging or feeding an addiction.

You're not wrong in principle but I think everyone can make their own decisions around whether they want to give money to people begging or not.

I never give them money but usually ask if they want something to eat. I often buy the homeless guy outside Morrisons a meal deal, or a hot drink if they have food and the weather is cold.

I’ve noticed an increase in the number of beggars being dropped off on our high street every morning.

Different people most days, yet always at least three of them on crutches. Quite remarkable really.

I-AM-HUNGRY - signs always have the same funny hyphens between words. Probably written by the same overlord.

Just don't give to beggars full stop. I;m sure we could all reel off the names of about 10 charities who work locally or nationally to combat poverty or homelessness.

People are misguided though and like the warm fuzzy feeling of immediate action and thinking they are doing a good thing. Same reason as people preferred to give their old clothes to Dave who was driving his transit to Ukraine rather than just donating to the Red Cross or Save the Children.

@RampantIvy Same will give food but never money.
People also need to look in to why buying The Big Issue is not the same anymore often run by gangs.

Thread exploring it here https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/5299350-big-issue-sellers

It's my money, I'll spend it on what I like thanks.

No one’s saying you can’t, all I’m saying is consider the wider impact of giving to seasoned beggars when those in genuine need often go without- the ones you don’t see sat on the streets begging.

I can assure you that the people I see begging are ‘in genuine need’.

I think you have to be in an incredibly low place to be begging on the streets and if I can give £1 or £2 to help them, I will. I don’t think we can possibly imagine how hard their life must be.

How do you feel about the low income, homeless / precariously housed individuals who aren't begging, but can't afford Christmas market stall fees, taking advantage of the surge of people looking to buy presents, decorations, and cards, by hanging around offering small amounts of their craft work outside the markets?
(Actually illegal, prosecuted and penalized, unlike beggars)

Do they add to the Christmas market ambience, creating bargain opportunities to purchasers, and providing an opportunity to offer respectable aid to those scraping by, through buying their work from them?

Or, are they an outrage because sales should only go to those able to afford to run a stall 'inside' the market, who have tbf created the 'attraction' by managing to pay the exorbitant stall fees in the first place?

Totally agree with this. At this time of year a young female big issue seller appears outside our coop. The first year she was there she was heavily pregnant and I bought a few things and gave a large Christmas tip.

Over the following years I’ve realised it’s a complete scam. She’s dropped off by men in fancy cars at 10am and picked up at 9pm. I still think she is very vulnerable and have reported it to the Big Issue who said they’d send someone to check on her welfare

I don't give money or food but if I see a woman/ girl then I will give a bag full of sanitary products, deodorant etc.

Which you just happen to be carrying about with you on the off-chance?

No. There are these things called shops which sell such items..I buy the stuff then go back.

Rotary funds many legitimate vans to Ukraine, so as a member I do donate. I also donate to food banks.

I'm not looking for validation or warm fuzzy feelings and I am not wealthy, but I always think that I am very fortunate compared to these people.

The only time I got the warm fuzzy feeling was when I bought a meal deal and the sandwich was tuna mayonnaise. The recipient was very grateful and told me that tuna mayonnaise was his favourite.

I was watching videos about beggars who actually live ok lives with houses ect and go out in big groups to popular places to beg just to get some money. They aren’t homeless or hard up. They just want easy cash.

At our local Sainsbury's there is one who drives in a nice car, parks it right at the back, then begs by the entrance! He is wearing old ripped clothing with nice Nike trainers. Makes me laugh whenever I see him walk back to his fancy car! I would never give money.

‘Videos’ made by whom? For what purpose? Disseminated how?

I don't give money to beggars as they may not be genuine.

I do give money to homeless charities and to charities that help people with addictions- they're still human beings in my view.

It's my money and I'll donate it how I want, not according to what you see as virtuous.

I used to live in a flat next door to a family of beggars. They invited me round once when I said I didn’t have any teabags for a cuppa (met in the lift and got chatting). They had more of everything than I did. A TV, beds, carpets. Things I didn’t have. It was eye opening. I hadn’t realised I was so so poor before. But it did open my eyes to beggars. This was just before the Big Issue started. They were really nice but for them it was a business. It made me cynical for quite a while.

Which I'm afraid puts many in a position of then having to sell it on cheaper than shop prices to others, or people who think it's cheap because it's been shoplifted and want to take advantage, or take it back to the store, (both those who are gifted, and those purchasing from them do it) to turn it into money.

This is London, so things may be different elsewhere.
I cook and serve at a pop up homeless kitchen. Approx 90% of our folk are definitely tent, tarpaulin, or doorway dwelling. 5% sleeping in vehicles (often non runners) We know this, because we know their individual tents and pitches.
5% we just don't know, but they generally say they're sofa surfing. They are real, very painfully real, and yes some are competing with professional beggars, others don't beg and rely on services, making things for sale, and small amounts of benefits.

Some of our folk point out that us having free hygiene care packages available, ads to reducing their ability to sell on this stuff which they don't need to be dragging around with them, or cluttering very small sleeping spaces, most of the time.

It does directly help some, and some bring it to us as 'stock' for others, if they either cant, or cant be bothered, (it can be exhausting for people) with trying to sell it on, or get it refunded.
But while well intended, it has it's pro's and cons. I'd suggest travel sized packages. May not feel as generous, but may fit lifestyles better.
New, packaged, underwear however...🙂

Totally with you OP. I never give money to anyone begging on the street and instead donate monthly to Shelter and a local food charity.

There was a chap who sat in Buchanan St in Glasgow, usually draped in Celtic flags and an Irish tricolour…dragged a woman who had stopped to talk to him, up the lane opposite to his ‘pitch’ and attempted to rape her. He was taken to court, he was making up to £100 a day and lived with his mum!
Obviously, this is only one story, but I never get street beggars money now. There was also a chap who sat further up
the street in his bare feet…his feet were filthy and he shivered with cold…he was discovered going up a side street to where his girlfriend was waiting with his socks and shoes!

The way I see it, even if the person sitting there is an addict, if they're homeless then me giving them a couple of quid is of slight help to them. If you're giving money, you shouldn't then try and police how it's spent.

Wow. I have never ever read anything like this on MN before. You have opened my eyes.