If you think you got it tough...

[Deleted member 28206]

Well in lid, Will donate tomorrow

Ours is over here - http://maghulldistrict.foodbank.org.uk/ we've got loads of f*cking food - which sickens me. She goes on about being no food, and i throw loads away from the fridge.

 

[The Cowboy]

Work out what you think is the minimum that you could 'survive' on is mate, and then look at just how many folk are living on way less than that. Try and do it on a bare minimum basis taking out stuff thats not essential. It's a very scary place that a lot of folk are in despite working every day.

Sure, I get that and I'd say I take a heck of a lot for granted. Just trying to gauge if it's fundamentally worse since the coalition came in. Surely there's always been desperate folk whose lives have fallen apart.

 

[Moomin]

Sure, I get that and I'd say I take a heck of a lot for granted. Just trying to gauge if it's fundamentally worse since the coalition came in. Surely there's always been desperate folk whose lives have fallen apart.

Demand for people needing food banks is up quite a bit from 2011

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/tory-baroness-slammed-saying-poor-4767987

 

[The Cowboy]

Did some volunteering for FareShare a few years back. A very interesting and eye-opening experience.

Supermarkets donate pallets of food at least a month left on their shelf life, but costs them too much to distribute then withdraw if it doesn't sell. The whole system is an embarrassing, consumerist hell.

 

[hullefc]

That's really tough to listen to.

Without turning it all political (there's another thread for that), and not using food banks as a barometer, is it categorically, fundamentally much much worse under this govt? I honestly come from a position of general ignorance, I'm fortunate (for want of a better word) not to be in such a grave situation and don't know anyone remotely like it, so I don't have much frame of reference.

Please spare me the Tory bashing but be honest, how bad is it out there?

Mate I'm not being funny so please don't take this the wrong way. But go to any town or city and just look around. I was in Leeds the other week and couldn't believe the amount of beggars. Yes we have people down on their luck in Hull and some beg but most sell the big issue. But in Leeds around the night life area there was an awful lot of beggars.

 

[chrissyjack]

It's come to something when I have beans on toast for tea coz I can't be bothered cooking anything, and to that caller it would be a luxury . I'm sure somebody listening will be moved enough to have him round for Xmas dinner

 

[hullefc]

Did some volunteering for FareShare a few years back. A very interesting and eye-opening experience.

Supermarkets donate pallets of food at least a month left on their shelf life, but costs them too much to distribute then withdraw if it doesn't sell. The whole system is an embarrassing, consumerist hell.

Well done for volunteering.

 

[TX Bill]

Our family works with a local organization that provides free lunches for kids during the summer since they aren't in school and can't get the free lunch provided by the school system.

My wife and kids deliver the Tuesday lunches and it's amazing how appreciative they are of them.

It's also a very good learning experience for my two kids as they've got it pretty good. We had a long discussion with them last night about gratitude and how fortunate they are when there are kids in this world who don't know where their next meal is coming from.

 

[The Cowboy]

Mate I'm not being funny so please don't take this the wrong way. But go to any town or city and just look around. I was in Leeds the other week and couldn't believe the amount of beggars. Yes we have people down on their luck in Hull and some beg but most sell the big issue. But in Leeds around the night life area there was an awful lot of beggars.

I work in London and I can't say the number of beggars is visually any higher or lower than it's always been.

 

[hullefc]

I work in London and I can't say the number of beggars is visually any higher or lower than it's always been.

I lived in London throughout the 1980s and there was an awful lot of beggars. There is still those on the streets but less. I read somwhere that there are more short term shelters in London that elsewhere and a lot of money has been put into keeping people off the street. It seems to be working as I see very few when I go down to London these days.

 

[Elong]

Our family works with a local organization that provides free lunches for kids during the summer since they aren't in school and can't get the free lunch provided by the school system.

My wife and kids deliver the Tuesday lunches and it's amazing how appreciative they are of them.

It's also a very good learning experience for my two kids as they've got it pretty good. We had a long discussion with them last night about gratitude and how fortunate they are when there are kids in this world who don't know where their next meal is coming from.

That's brilliant that.

 

[Del]

Our family works with a local organization that provides free lunches for kids during the summer since they aren't in school and can't get the free lunch provided by the school system.

My wife and kids deliver the Tuesday lunches and it's amazing how appreciative they are of them.

It's also a very good learning experience for my two kids as they've got it pretty good. We had a long discussion with them last night about gratitude and how fortunate they are when there are kids in this world who don't know where their next meal is coming from.

That's boss that and frigging heart breaking at the same time, Kids not having food in one of if not the biggest super power in the world

Worlds gone to sh1t

 

[Reidy's Bottle Of Grecian]

Sure, I get that and I'd say I take a heck of a lot for granted. Just trying to gauge if it's fundamentally worse since the coalition came in. Surely there's always been desperate folk whose lives have fallen apart.

It's more to do with how much less folk have got to live on, working on a minimum wage that's nowhere near enough & hasn't kept up with inflation, sure there are tax credits as well but there's been a cut in the increase of all benefits so after bills get paid for electricity, heating etc it's generally whats left that's available for food and that amount has got less and less as other bills have risen.
The 'weve taken people out of taxation' is a big 'pile of tbh' cos if you're only earning that amount then it isnt enough even if you're not paying any tax.... and probably only amounted to about £150 per year of less tax than before, at the same time local authorities made it where full council tax benefit i.e. 100% doesn't exist and everyone has to pay at least certain percentage, round here thats at least £250, so it doesn't take a great deal of working out to see that leaves folk with £100 less than before.
"We're All In It Together," though.


There are a great many businesses paying minimum wage whilst turning a profit, with wages effectively being subsidised via tax credits, yet it's seen to be acceptable to hit those workers with cuts whilst the companies maintain their profits.

 

[Kurt.]

The gulf between the 'haves' and 'have nots' is widening and until that's solved we will continue going backwards... Not just as a country ... But as a race.... Basic human principles of kindness, helpfulness, community etc are being trounced by the greater need to accumulate personal wealth..... That's at all levels of society and commerce in my opinion.

 

[Chang Elephant]

We can help our own can't we? Do we need a government to do it for us?

Unfortunately Bruce, we do need a government to do this for us, and we need to pay fair level taxes to assist the govt. Would also be nice to chase down those tax evaders/avoiders at the upper sections of earners that costs the systems billions. This free market's great isn't it ?