AIBU to be miffed about Chester Zoo?

[Stillinshock123]

I need a space to rant but then I welcome feedback and general common-sense.

Chester zoo have posted about £1 deal for those on benefits such as UC, DLA and PIP.

Now, I understand that for some this may be the only opportunity to attend the Zoo given their already ridiculously high prices.

However AIBU to be upset that yet again working families (full time not claiming parts of UC) don’t seem to benefit from much?

We attend the zoo only once a year because of how expensive it is.. so that’s a luxury. So no thanks, no support or discounts.

I emailed them about this, and they replied saying that it’s part of a charity scheme to give back to families who otherwise can’t afford it. But then.. why shouldn’t it be first come first serve?

Absolutely this!!!! 👏👏👏

Hey, why not have the people who are taking advantage of this offer wear a grey tabard, so everyone knows they are on benefits.
I would not put it past some people to think that would be a good idea.

Great! Thank you. May have a look

Yes, a tabard of shame. Why not? Then everyone knows to avoid the grotty ‘benefits people’

That’s the (Xmas) spirit!

Always check the details of these £1/£3 schemes as some of them include DLA - this one included.

Will do thank you. Never checked tbh but ds loves the outdoors so if it helps then great!

I'm on UC and work FT as a single parent., most holidays we stay at home using food banks, this scheme means my children get a zoo,trip once a year.
Think before you speak,

Difficult one as can see both sides. It does piss me off that some people seem to think because you aren't receiving benefits you can afford these trips. I don't claim anything but not exactly rolling it in. Some months can be a real struggle. The joys of being the 'squeezed middle'.

I guess it's difficult for Chester Zoo (which honestly I don't even rate) can judge who can afford it and who can't. I think they are doing their best with it and I'm glad children can have this experience if parents want it for them.

The bigger picture here though is wealth inequality. Imho we need a wealth tax immediately and many jobs that are low paid need to be increased to minimum £20 an hour, so many families can come off benefits.

That's a whole other argument though...

When you work and spend your life juggling childcare and all the home things along with a job, it’s quite hard to hear that choose not to work and are given money. In my line of work I’ve had the odd parent begging me to write a supportive letter to say they are unable to work because they have a young child. But meanwhile, my children are in childcare that I’ve paid for to be at work.

My views have nothing to do with people unable to work for reasons such as caring for a disabled child or being disabled themselves. My own DC receives higher rate DLA but this is for her additional expenses and is used in that way.

This will be our first trip out as a family this year. We haven’t been able to afford a holiday together, and now have a joint DMP because of how much we’ve been struggling. Minimal Christmas presents.

But yeah, everyone on UC are jobless layabouts. Thanks for the roasting, OP. Sorry my life is shitter than yours.

I can't get worked up about disabled people on PIP or DLA getting a cheap pass to the zoo. Anyone who shops at Tesco's can use their club card points for Chester Zoo btw.

Or people on UC either tbh.

Who funds this scheme? Who/what is making it possible to get a ticket for £1?

This is for children who receive DLA too.

I bet they didn't. They probably didn't even have a membership. People say nonsense like this all the time.

Will do thank you. Never checked tbh but ds loves the outdoors so if it helps then great!

museummum.com/universal-credit-days-out/

I think it was posted earlier, but this is a good link. There are quite a few places that include DLA.

I think you're probably right. One section lists ESA as one of the eligibility criteria, separate from universal credit. It's academic in our case though.

Would you really stand in front of families with disabled children and say its not fair they get this opportunity....wow the spirit of Christmas just evaporates 🤢😔 Awful post

We’re eligible because our child is disabled- can’t imagine begrudging someone of such an offer for this reason! Oh, and by the way we’re a working family.

YABU you can afford to pay full price to visit once a year. The charity will subsidise those who do visit. Why do you think a charity should pay for your family if you have a comfortable lifestyle? Plus it’s not much fun visiting the zoo this time of year. It’s in the north so usually pissing it down.

This is not true. Chester Zoo has never joined Clubcard points.

Twycross, Blackpool, Longleat and Exmoor are, but the big ones like Chester and London aren't

I think you're probably right. One section lists ESA as one of the eligibility criteria, separate from universal credit. It's academic in our case though.

It's something that a few disability charities have asked venues to make clear. Especially with the likes of London Zoo who do check specifically for the income based detail so that people don't travel and then discover they're not actually eligible.

Most of the people that receive UC do work.

Most of the people in this country who don’t work are SAHP either because their DPs earn enough for them to do so or because their kids are disabled.

I work FT. I do all of the home stuff that you do too.
I would love to earn enough that I don’t qualify for UC.

I think an important note to take here is disabled people dont have a choice in being disabled or not. And those who aren't disabled but have found themselves in financial hard ship with young kids, well is this not great for families and CHILDREN who may not get to go otherwise. People who simply play the system, yes be angry with them bilut its hard to play the system these days (I think) so will be few and far between