Food Banks

[Workingman]

The Trussell Trust is reporting that last year it gave away 913,000 food parcels - 2,500 a day. That is up from 347,000 the year before.

Now I am not saying that food banks are not absolutely essential for some people. There are those who have fallen into the poverty trap, and they do need help. There are also those, often with poor education, who do not have a clue about home economics, food prep or financial management, they too need help - but then there are the Mickey takers.

I do wonder if a lot of the rise in uptake is down to: 1) more knowledge, through media coverage, of the existence of food banks - not a bad thing, 2) the phenomenon that when something is free it will be used - and abused, and 3) and inability/unwillingness to identify and say "No" to those who are scamming the system.

[Rodo]

I was just saying as much to hubby as we watched the report on it on TV. There will be quite a few people I have no doubt who don't need the help and are just taking advantage. There is no logical way of screening out these people and concentrating on the genuine cases though.

[Diflower]

People don't just turn up and get given them though, do they? They have to be referred by social services, and they only get I think 3 parcels in a row, it's meant to 'tide them over' not be a permanent crutch.
I do wish though, that they got someone to help them make best use of their parcel as well

[Aggers]

I'm sure that this facility is a blessing to those in real need, but you will always get those who abuse it.

I don't know how one can sort out the undeserving from the deserving without causing discomfort to the
genuine ones, or why this problem seems to be more prevalent now than it used to be. Is it something to
do with changes in our education system, or the fact that church attendances have fallen so markedly, or
simply a result of living in a relatively affluent society?

It's certainly food for thought. (excuse the pun)

[Workingman]

People don't just turn up and get given them though, do they? They have to be referred by social services, and they only get I think 3 parcels in a row, it's meant to 'tide them over' not be a permanent crutch.

That's what I thought Di, but we are both wrong. It is not always the case, as this Freedom of Info request shows.

Information request
Who decided and why that people could only be allowed three food bank
vouchers a year.
DWP response
If there are local levels set, as outlined in your e-mail, they will be set by the individual food bank. Jobcentres signpost to food banks if a local agreement exists. In some instances the food bank will advise the Jobcentre to contact them before signposting particular claimants, however ultimately the decision whether the food bank offers support and the frequency of the support rests with them.

The Trussell Trust says this:
Care professionals such as doctors, health visitors, social workers, CAB and police identify people in crisis and issue them with a foodbank voucher. Foodbanks partner with a wide range of care professionals who are best placed to assess need and make sure that it is genuine.

As for sorting the wheat from the chaff. I have a family member who works closely with the DWP and she gives the impression that many of them, having been pulled from pillar to post with changes to this and that, are not bothered or are so demotivated that it is easier to go with the flow.

[saundra]

I would not use a food bank even if I was hard up
Think alot are abusing the system
You can pull the wool over social you just give them false information

And I know what being hard up is like
I've been there done that

[cromwell]

Some lovely people broke into a food bank in Wakefield and nicked the food.

[Workingman]

MPs eh? Anything for a free meal, that lot.

[cromwell]

Well if they have the brass neck to claim 20p a mile expenses for cycling, you certainly wouldn't rule them out.

[KateLMead]

MPs eh? Anything for a free meal, that lot.