Britains Hiidden Hungry on BBC1

[Darkesteyes]

Tonight at 10.35.
Its about people who have had to use food banks. I just thought id flag it up on here for anyone who would be interested in watching it.
Ive only just spotted it in the TV guide.

thanks - i'd be interested in watching that, just hope i stay awake

It's heart wrenching isn't it? The Presenter is so lovely! Giving everyone money - he's going to be skint by the end of this film!

This programme is heartbreaking. This young woman Charlotte is amazing.

I know! I want her to come live with us - we'll look after her - she's incredible so strong.

Having to pawn her laptop with all her college work on it.
Shows how hard it is to "pull yourself up by the bootstraps" like some of the right wingers keep saying on here.
or "every young person has relatives they can live with" as a certain person on here keeps saying.

feel for Charlotte whereas Darren is a scammer and misusing the food bank

Gavin your judgment is seriously off.

what a shame that scum bag abused the whole system. i think they need more stringent checks.

Gavin was very naivve

Didn't see this thread, just started one in chat. Really surprised at how judgmental the volunteers are (well Gavin) and how easily they got played. Darren was able to get food without vouchers and yet Sandra got questioned after two vouchers (and seemed in genuine need imvho).

There was an article in the Guardian about this same thing. They came across as a bit judgey in that article as well. i will find the link and put it here.
I think religion is clouding Gavins judgement. I noticed Darren was wearing a t shirt saying something like Gods Creation and i think a lot of the assumption that Darren was "a good egg" came from that.
Whereas the lady who had had a part time job in Maccy Ds got questioned about why she had had 3 vouchers and yet Darren was allowed to have food with no vouchers purely based on the fact that "he loves God" so he must be good.

The fool running that bank was so arogant.

Heartbreaking stories.

The conman has been outed at least.

Lovely journalist.

Rather broke journalist by the end based on all the hand outs he gave! I was hugely impressed by Charlotte.

I felt sorry for Kelly, she seemed to be pulled into a cult.

How humiliating to refer to the poor continually like that at the cult centre.

I know there is more to it than will be shown on TV but I did cringe at the bit in church, it didn't seem right asking her to come to talk while still needing of further help, it would be another matter once she was on her feet so wouldn't be worried about the repercussions if she declined. It could have been handled with great care but it did seem insensitive from what was shown.

Volunteers say they try not to be critical of the people who come in, but incidental comments show they clearly struggle not to categorise recipients into deserving and undeserving; there is a hint of moralising that might be less pronounced in a state service. There's some uncharitable speculation about why the food bank is less busy in the morning, which goes along the lines of "these people don't get up early". At the Hope Centre there is discussion about how deserving the Romanian families are.

"We try not to be judgmental but if you can't stand close because of the alcohol fumes, you think if you had a couple of bottles less of whisky then maybe you'd be able to buy some food," one of the volunteers says, before catching himself, and adding: "But alcoholism is an addiction. Some people are very grateful and others think it is their right to get food."

This is the article i copied and pasted my last post from. It is about the same centre that was featured in the programme.

www.guardian.co.uk/society/2012/jul/18/food-banks-on-hand-outs?INTCMP=SRCH

I too thought that was a bit patronising Mrs Ewing.

The people running these things aren't perfect but they do seem to be trying and to have their hearts in the right place. It seems so wrong that there is such a great need for their service, this isn't one or two slipping through the net, the net itself has been slashed. Those in government should look at this programme and feel ashamed at what they have done.

THIS is an interesting read.

canvas.union.shef.ac.uk/wordpress/?p=1239

I thought the journalist was lovely too.

During the programme DH said Lets replace George Osborne with Charlotte because shell do a better job.
I agree with him.

Old Boots when the Mayor was there talking to Darren (before they knew he was dodgy) and there was cameras there to take photos because he was the recipient of the ten thousanth parcel. It just felt wrong. They were acting like its something to be proud of that our cuntry has come to this.
Its something to be ashamed of.

The Mayor had no intereat in the conman.

I am uncomfortable with the agenda the food bank has. Well meaning schools, sw, benefit offices are putting vulnerable people in potential harm.

Does anyone else think its odd that Darren agreed to be filmed. Seems a bit odd.
Asda was featured in the programme too.
But i saw something in my Twitter timeline which said that Asda have yet again cut their hours because they have taken on workfarers in the run up to xmas [hconfused] Then you see that supermarkets are putting security tags on their meat and you can see whats wrong here [hhmm]

Darren was a strange one. His eye's nearly reached out on stalks when the journo discussed the birthday.

I don't shop at Asda anyway, not surprised they are exploiting people on workfare.