Children going hungry in the summer holidays

Thanks for letting me know I will donate something when I shop later.

I am horrified by some of the reactions above! Don't you know that nurses and other paid workers are sometime having to supplement their low incomes by visits to food banks? Of course there may be some scroungers - that's life - but the banks would not exist if there were not a real human need. I'm ashamed to be among such mean-spirited grans!

You have to be given a referral to go to a foodbank ...through GP...Social Worker...Headteacher...Church.Minister etc. I know this for a fact as my son in law is one of above and has to do referrals himself. You do not just turn up randomly off the street to cadge free food as some people seem to think. Also there is a limit to how many times you can be given free food from the foodbank and it is not weekly either. Some foodbanks and churches do have access to facilities for cooking hot meals for the homeless and less fortunate ...some eat for free, while others make a small donation if they can. This is all done by volunteers who care about others. A local fish & chip shop near where I live donates a free hot meal every other week..via the volunteers for a group of homeless people. Thankfully we have a lot of people who can see were help is needed and give it willingly.

Hmm..there ARE awful tales of poverty but I'm a tad sceptical. I used to work in a supermarket- young mums on breadline came in to spend their government milk/ fruit tokens... lose count of how many tried to use them for fags or sweets. Or having got their free milk would splurge on scratchcards from their (presumable) state benefits. I see breakfast clubs at schools for kids who'd otherwise go hungry...but how much do a couple of slices of toast (Savers bread!) cost honestly? I took a homeless guy out for breakfast once, arranged to meet up with him next day to try to help him find accommodation (he never showed...tho he was fit & well & elsewhere in town.) I don't doubt people are poor but don't think you have to starve (even without food banks.)

does it matter how much it costs? If the parents aren't feeding the children for whatever reason should that mean the rest of us stand back and watch them starve? Not in my world..and thankfully not in my governments world either ...I am delighted our schools will still feed hungry kids during the holidays .Its just luck if we aren't in the same position..bad luck happens to most of us at some stage in our lives .

paddyann and nahama

"Don't Judge......." and "walk a mile in my shoes"
Agreed but I am remain mystified as to why we need food banks in England. Many years ago I lived "below the breadline" with DH and four children under four in a well off Antipodean country. No Food Banks or hand outs available!

The phrase "cut your coat according to your cloth" comes to mind.

I never give to food banks. They encourage people to be reliant on handouts and most of those families have iphones, Sky/Netflix, 50" tvs etc...I've seen it first hand as I have visited some recipients in their homes in order to help them with their finances.
Not any more.
My charity stops at the RNLI, KSSAIR and the Sally Army.

I despair of some peoples attitudes to those in a less fortunate situation then themselves. First benefits, everyone is going to be on Universal Credit by the end of 2019, or so they say, This means going at least 6 weeks with no money whatsoever coming in and when you get your benefit you will find you are in arrears with their rent as it paid a month in arrears. Then we have people on low wages struggling with housing costs etc. As for people having children, well children are the future, they are the ones who will be doing the jobs needed to keep the country going. I just hope the poster who said they never give to food banks never needs help of any sort. Shame n you for your attitudes.

Some of the things you are saying could well be true, but we mustn't forget in this children are going hungry, even if their parents could look after them properly some choose not to.
What NanKate is saying is true - and even food banks are not the answer to the problem of some children going hungry in the school holidays, as school dinners may be the only substantial meal they get.

I hope this scheme is continuing again this year, funded by the Welsh Government.
There was talk of the 'sugar tax' being used to fund free meals in the holidays for children in need - has this happened?

www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-politics-38490966

I don't doubt some of those going to foodbanks and/or getting benefits are fit and able to work but choose not to - however I don't believe that is the majority and we have to remember we are talking about children going hungry here. Whether it is through the poverty of the parents or neglect surely the priority should be to see that the children are fed.

Yes, I may be helping "freeloaders" but if by doing so I am also helping feed a hungry child then so be it

I haven't read this in full and have to go out now, but it would seem to be relevant:

hansard.parliament.uk/commons/2018-01-19/debates/CD1F89D8-ACE1-4C2C-924C-D672E9E99B23/SchoolHolidays(MealsAndActivities)Bill

Barmeyoldbat

I make no apologies for my comment here.
I am not about to pick up the slack for parents who don't budget efficiently. A pack of cigarettes would feed a family of 4, a decent home-cooked dinner plus breakfast.
Basic food cooked well.
I will never find myself in that position as I spend far less than my incoming pension and I owe not a penny piece.

Children do not ask to be born to 'feckless' parents though GabriellaG, and perhaps it is more than feeding a hungry child. It could be showing a child another way of living, a kindness, that could mean that child would act differently when they themselves have a family one day.

I think the point of the thread was about providing a nourishing meal for a child who would go hungry during the holidays because, generally speaking, the only decent meal they would ever get is a school meal during term-time.

Somehow, the thread has meandered on to food banks.

I might add that many supermarkets now sell a compete school uniform for primary aged children, for a fiver...yes, £5. Primark sells out of school clothes at ridiculously low prices, even cheaper than some charity shops so there is, IMO, little to no excuse for not looking after your family within your means.

we need a like button ..Well said Jalima1108

Jalima1108
I take your point, however, for as long as the rest of society picks up the slack, it will not encourage 'feckless' parents to be responsible.
'Parents' who have no notion of responsibility towards their children are not deserving of my assistance via foodbanks or summer holiday meals for kids. If their parent(s) are working, where is the money going and if they're not working, why are they not spending the benefits intended for the children ON the children?
I'm sure that no right thinking person would be comfortable feeding my hungry children after seeing that we had a cinema-screen sized tv and iphone, ipad, Sky and smoked 20 a day. Your hard earned money to do someone else's job.
I respect all comments but mine is right for me.

I agree it’s terrible. I’m actually going without a couple of meals a week to eke out our food and have a Daughter leaving college soon who hasn’t found a job yet which means our income will drop even further. I can understand how the number of people with Mental Health issues is rising as quite often find my stress is going through the roof trying to survive. Just wondering how others are coping? X

Each of us is entitled to our opinion. And mine is that I am shocked to the core by some GNs arrogant, judgemental attitudes. Shame on you.

Why the obesity then and of concern that is on the increase in young children. Banning sweets at check out is not the answer having observed one small child in a push chair packet of crisps in its hands when the store (Tesco) are giving out free fresh fruit for children?.

GabriellaG I respect all comments but mine is right for me

I respect that too; however, showing children that there is a different way of living, people who care, could be a good step on the way to a better future for them.

When I was in a rush, I grabbed a packet of crisps with my lunch-on-the-go in M&S sarahellen, didn't eat them because I am not that keen on them - just offered them to DH but he checked the calories first - 208 cals in one small packet!

DS64till. As your daughter has still to leave college, and if she is old enough , has she not thought of a saturday or sunday job. Were she to work in a food superstore she would get a free meal ?I know my kids did and that was many many years ago unless things have changed.

One of mine got a live-in job in a pub in between university and waiting to start her job. She really enjoyed it!

I am bemused by the 'starving' narrative. When my mother left my father and had two jobs to support my sister and I we had very little money in the house. We just about managed to buy food but we never went without. Though eligible for free school meals I was too proud ever to accept them and we also lived in privately rented cheap rooms rather than council provided accommodation.

Looking back, my mother smoked and drank and ran through a lot of household money this way. We could have had a better life had she chosen otherwise. With only one bra and no reliance on sanitary products being in the house my teenage years were fraught with embarrassing difficulties.

All in all we were very, very poor but we managed and had our pride and self respect intact. I was very much of the opinion that the way out of my dilemma was to work hard at school and better myself and my sister and I became teachers.

I have a horrible feeling that many attendee of food banks are not there from sudden changes in circumstances, mental health problems or other non-culpable states. I do not know for certain and wish I had better information.

However, given the emotive and virtue signalling outrage evident when any questions are put concerning the facts surrounding food banks I do not think I will be in any better position to know the truth for some time.

This obfuscation is probably harming food bank clients more than any group, a fact the virtue signalling outraged, should consider.

Self reliance, autonomy, independence and effort are probably the best ways out of any periods of want. Becoming dependent and having an attitude of victimhood (real or assumed) are probably the worst.

Not sure if last message was posted - I am not passing judgement on people who use food banks any more than some grans out there are passing judgement on me and others who disagree with subsidising people who could work but choose not to. I have worked hard all my life - have had many difficulties to cope with and few luxuries - I give to many charities where I definitely know my money goes to help but to give it to the social service system who seem unable to identify benefits cheats - no - I’m afraid not.

Not quite the same but I hear there may now be 'fuel' banks, logs, in the offing to help those unable to afford their winter fuel bills. How will that help those in accommodation that doesn't have a chimney.