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.

There’s a lidl and Greggs near me. For years 2 men have begged outside, swopping over every few hours. Thankfully they seemed to have finally moved them on. They were both quite aggressive.

Theres been a young lad living outside this year near me. He had mental health issues and the whole community have been trying to help him, take him drinks/food and offering him items to make him more comfortable, keeping an eye on him. He was refusing most help but a few weeks ago relented, thank god with how cold it’s been. These charities are priceless.

There’s a woman who camps outside our local Tesco express to sell the Big Issue every single day, and has done for the last four years. The doorway is small and customers have to manoeuvre around her to enter. I wish the management would ask her to back off; after so many years of seeing her shouting after people leaving the shop and getting agressive, my sympathy has disappeared.

You don't actually know that, apart from what they tell you

And you dont know they aren't

But we also can't guarantee what happens to that money once it goes to the charity or that many big charities don't have CEOs who certainly have very lined pockets as well.

The homeless man I occasionally give money to lives in a small tent. Homeless shelters don't accept animals and he has no plans to abandon his dog so he stays in the tent with his dog.

I went to Birmingham Xmas Market yesterday and had a great time, but I agree there was loads of them. One came up and started singing Man in the Mirror to us and me, being pissed on German beer, rapturously joined in, before of course he asked for change. Saying I had none, he asked me to bank transfer it to him 😂When he left, my brum friends informed me this is his USP, and always the same song. I thought I was special 😣

Oh, and as I said I wouldn't bank transfer he tutted and stormed off 😂

@Elleherd
How can we help YOU to help them? I'd be more inclined to give to you than a street random

I frequently used to see the same beggar in his ‘spot’ on my way in to work. I sometimes gave to him. Until the morning I was a bit earlier than normal, saw him being dropped off with a group of similarly dressed people and heard their handler, for want of a better word, telling them where to sit that day.

I don’t believe most beggars are real. Maybe people being used by organised crime, or simply large scale scammers, but not genuine.

I’m with you, OP.

And how do you know that with absolute certainty? They may be "in need" because they've been trafficked to the UK for the express purpose of begging due to a physical disability or other misfortune.

In virtually all OECD countries (aka the "rich" ones), there is sufficient social support that nobody actually needs to be begging on the street in order to survive. There's a multi-layered system of charities, government programs, churches etc to help someone who genuinely doesn't want to beg. However those that do, are doing so for other reasons. Perhaps they earn more through begging, they have MH or addiction issues or they are forced into it and literally have no choice.

My friends who do speak it say they are. Obviously the people themselves might not be always Romanian, they're just being exploited by them. And I'm not saying it's all big issue sellers just in my area.

that’s a huge lot of assumptions happening there…
Do you check first if they menstruate / are biologically female/ pregnant/ using a mooncup/ not on contraception which stops bleeding such as the coil?

who are we to decide what a person might want or need?

I have become increasingly sceptical about those begging and sadly those seeking help from food banks. The town I live there is a food bank and on numerous occasions when I have been passed I have 10 people who have left with a huge amount of food lighting cigarettes walking den the road and getting into cars which whist not brand new are certainly not that old. It was clear that the three individuals had entered separately but were meeting up afterwards. I felt extremely and uneasy about the attitude that they were displaying as it was clearly designed to look as as if they were on their own, before people start saying I’ve made assumptions,How do I expect them to behave and that I’m being unfair, judgemental etc etc. I know what I saw. I used to give food to this food bank but stopped and I’m really very very cynical. I know there are people who are really struggling, but I’m just not sure of what is the best way now to help Those who truly need to help to receive it.

The common suggestion is to buy food or drink, or a hot drink because it makes the giver feel better than handing over money. However they don’t seem to think everyone else has the same idea. The recipients usually throw most of it away (don’t want to save it/have nowhere to save it) as they are given various sandwiches, sausage rolls and coffees all day long. And if you don’t ask what the food preference is/check for allergies and just give without knowing then adds a dehumanising layer to it. Who knows what the ‘right’ thing to do is. Probably give to local charities who then in turn can help these people (rather than lining the pockets of the large charities who won’t have an impact on the individuals living/begging/sleeping rough in your area). Street link, food collection points in supermarkets, local donation schemes.

People who use food banks (there will be a few dotted around your area, not just the one), will have been signposted to them by one of several services or local authorities. After having been deemed as entitled to the help and referred. It’s not a case of just turning up to one. Even if you’re in genuine need. Working people are having to turn to food banks in larger numbers than ever before due to the cost of living crisis, many of these will have access to cars. Just normal every day people.

I do, actually, and it has nothing to do with anything they tell me. I help out on a rota on a city centre soup run, and those people are queuing in the cold at night for food and sleeping bags. And because I live close to the city centre myself, I know some of their regular doorways.

That's why I always ask first. Although the regular guy once asked me for a fried egg sandwich and a cup of tea with about 6 sugars in it and when I came back he had gone. I took the sandwich back for DH who said it was delicious.

Opinions evidently vary.

I am confused why are some people talking about Roma and Romanian as if they are the same?

Work in ASC mental health and I’ll give my money to whom I like. Cheers. I can name political figures local and national who are much bigger chancers.

Working people use food banks, unemployed people drive cars, foodbank users might have friends who are foodbank users and arrange to go together and gather food at the same time or meet up afterwards , peoples support workers and carers etc go to collect people’s food on their behalf, any one of the aforementioned people might have a smoking habit yet still need access to food..,

@fatphalangeI wasn’t aware that a referral was needed for a food bank , I don’t know if that’s the case for all food banks? I only know of one food bank in the area I live in.
@Stucknstoopityes I agree that some people on low income who work do need support. I think there is however, I wonder about some of those who claim support but do manage their budget which itself is a need as some people give you the food banks are less well off than those who receive from them. The schools in this area give harvest collections, Christmas collections etc etc to this foodbank and all/most will bring something even better from very low income families. I do not think it right that those who may be receiving from the food banks are abusing this. I am aware that the other poster said that people need to be referred and I will check that out as I used to give to the food bank myself but stopped as I felt it was being abused

I'd rather rely on the regulation provided by the Charity Commission than go "hey, these organised crime guys will know what best to do with my money."

For the homeless, small local charities often have great expertise and can make even small amounts work miracles in helping to find pathways off the street for vulnerable people.

I'd much rather my money was supporting that, even if there's a risk my money might be spent on something I don't totally agree with, than giving directly when there is a significant risk of my money supporting organised crime or the drugs trade.

25 years in London has made me rather cynical about begging. Money direct to charity.

I also never give to people who ask. I was approached by a man this evening who asked me directly for change in a dark street. That’s a new one and something I do not like