The Good News thread, local jobs, economy etc

[Rincewind]

Where the hell are these foodbanks? I have never seen one.

 

If you do not need one you may not where to find them without using Google.

 

Location of foodbanks for the UK

Edited 20 December 2013 by Rincewind

[Rincewind]

Unless someone is permanently eating from a foodbank, then they are victims of their inability to manage their money properly. 

 

A person can only visit a foodbank so many times. (limited by vouchers) They are also referred to others who can advise on many things.

 

If a person with a family and on minmumwage or zero contract hours and their benefit payments are delayed they will struggle to manage. As will those who have had payments stopped altogether. They still have to pay for gas and electricity and other bills.

Unless you are in the situation or meet people on a daily basis in the situation it is easy to deny that it is happening whilst sitting in your comfort zone.

[ADK]

I love how everyone thinks food banks are just handing out free food to people with no questions asked.

 

That said, if anyone ever finds themselves homeless I recommend university careers events. If they are still like they were when I was at uni then you can walk right in and help yourself to free food, beer and wine with no one asking for ID.

[Rincewind]

I love how everyone thinks food banks are just handing out free food to people with no questions asked.

 

That said, if anyone ever finds themselves homeless I recommend university careers events. If they are still like they were when I was at uni then you can walk right in and help yourself to free food, beer and wine with no one asking for ID.

They think that because MP's say it and the media tells the public.

 

Well now the no second night out scheme has started anyone found sleeping rough should be directed to a hostel or contact Street Link on 03005000914 Its a free number wont even cost a tin of beans.

Low income familes who work also use foodbanks probably more than the homeless.

[Rincewind]

People who run food banks have a vested interest in them being more in demand.  They are therefore not a wholly reliable source of information.  And use of foodbanks doesn't necessarilly equal need for foodbanks. 

Do you not think those people would rather be spending Xmas at home with their families than dishing out food and essentials to desperate people?

[Jon the Hat]

Do you not think those people would rather be spending Xmas at home with their families than dishing out food and essentials to desperate people?

Clearly not or they would be doing just that!

[Jon the Hat]

They think that because MP's say it and the media tells the public.

Well now the no second night out scheme has started anyone found sleeping rough should be directed to a hostel or contact Street Link on 03005000914 Its a free number wont even cost a tin of beans.

Low income familes who work also use foodbanks probably more than the homeless.

You have way to much confidence in people who give out these vouchers. I doubt very much whether you have to prove you didn't spend your cash on Fags.

[Rincewind]

You have way to much confidence in people who give out these vouchers. I doubt very much whether you have to prove you didn't spend your cash on Fags.

Good enough excuse for avoiding the situation things are and looking the other way which is exactly what governments want people to do.

[Rincewind]

Clearly not or they would be doing just that!

Are you saying they would rather set up foodbanks to feed children? I think they would rathere there be no need for foodbanks in the UK.

[The People's Hero]

I thought all banks were evil capitalist institutions Rincewind? What makes these 'food'banks so different?

I reckon these foodbankers are responsible for all our problems, for any personal shortcomings and for people living on the streets. Bastards. Bet they all have off shore accounts and are all laughing at us too. Smearing themselves with crap tinned food watching homeless porn no doubt. They will want bailing out next.

[Zingari]

Clearly not or they would be doing just that!

or clearly not everyone is selfish and uncaring towards those in dire need .

[Guest MattP]

Do you not think those people would rather be spending Xmas at home with their families than dishing out food and essentials to desperate people?

The food banks provide three days of food on each serving so why on earth would they be working in xmas day?

Get everyone in on the 23rd and reopen boxing day.

If you tell me the clients are so feckless they can't arrange that then they deserve to be mocked and laughed at by millions of conservatives.

[Jon the Hat]

or clearly not everyone is selfish and uncaring towards those in dire need .

It was a stupid question. Obviously those who help people are doing it because it is important to them.

[MooseBreath]

Seems like you can get a voucher from pretty much anywhere:

http://hinckley.foodbank.org.uk/food

Also I'm sure they're available to buy on the street and no doubt you can just print your own.

People are being handed vouchers Willy nilly. Basically anyone on hand outs can get a voucher just by asking. Even if you're not on benefits you can just go into one of these places, pretend to be struggling and they'll give you a voucher.

The charity that runs them has set them up all over the UK I'm recent years and has self-reported increased usage figures. Of course there is increased usage if they have set up new centres and made getting vouchers extremely easy. They say more people have been using food banks because of cuts to benefits but the fact is more people have been using them because of increased awareness of the opportunity to use them and there being no real regulation or barriers to stop people taking advantage.

The charity has seem an opportunity for growth and has taken it with impressive efficiency. I wonder how much of a payrise those in charge of that charity have given themselves lately?

[Zingari]

It was a stupid question. Obviously those who help people are doing it because it is important to them.

No it wasn't a stupid question at all .

 Ken  asked if people would sooner be at home having a good time rather than dishing up food to those in need. and they probably would .

 But in the circumstances there are those among us that  are prepared to forfeit those pleasures for a more important reason .

Have you never done something you'd rather not because of a greater need ? You don't always choose to do things willingly , sometimes a sense of responsibility and compassion  makes the decision for us. 

 

I applaud them and sometimes wish i weren't so selfish .

[Rincewind]

I thought all banks were evil capitalist institutions Rincewind? What makes these 'food'banks so different?

I reckon these foodbankers are responsible for all our problems, for any personal shortcomings and for people living on the streets. Bastards. Bet they all have off shore accounts and are all laughing at us too. Smearing themselves with crap tinned food watching homeless porn no doubt. They will want bailing out next.

Thats quite funny actually. I'd give you a rep point but i don't want you aquire a huge ego. I like you as you are.

[MooseBreath]

No it wasn't a stupid question at all .

Ken asked if people would sooner be at home having a good time rather than dishing up food to those in need. and they probably would .

But in the circumstances there are those among us that are prepared to forfeit those pleasures for a more important reason .

Have you never done something you'd rather not because of a greater need ? You don't always choose to do things willingly , sometimes a sense of responsibility and compassion makes the decision for us.

I applaud them and sometimes wish i weren't so selfish .

Come off it zing. Someone as cynical as you ought to be able to openly appreciate that most of these charity folk are in it for the gratification.

[Zingari]

Come off it zing. Someone as cynical as you ought to be able to openly appreciate that most of these charity folk are in it for the gratification.

:xmasbiggrin:

I'm sure there are elements of  "ripping off their blouses  to bandage the wounded " going on .

But i really doubt that this is what it's all about.

If i was openly confronted by someone in need , then in all probability I would stop to help rather than selfishly ignoring them . But i wouldn't go out of my way to look for those in need , and it's these people who should be applauded in my book.

But yes , I agree , there can be selfishness in altruism .

[Rincewind]

Is there more gratification in ignoring people? I still have some 'faith' in human humanity and compasion for others. what is wrong with feeling satisfied that you have done something good for someone in need rather than be selfish and thinking about yourself. greed is not always good.

[Zingari]

Is there more gratification in ignoring people? I still have some 'faith' in human humanity and compasion for others. what is wrong with feeling satisfied that you have done something good for someone in need rather than be selfish and thinking about yourself. greed is not always good.

absolutely nothing Ken 

[Finnegan]

A vast majority of the time, I'm nice to people because I like being seen to be nice to people (omg psychopath test wtf) though occasionally it's a feeling of obligation. That's probably a nice way of saying guilt.

[Guest MattP]

:xmasbiggrin:

I'm sure there are elements of "ripping off their blouses to bandage the wounded " going on .

But i really doubt that this is what it's all about.

If i was openly confronted by someone in need , then in all probability I would stop to help rather than selfishly ignoring them . But i wouldn't go out of my way to look for those in need , and it's these people who should be applauded in my book.

But yes , I agree , there can be selfishness in altruism .

A lot of this supposed help and compassion only seems to arrive when they need an excuse to attack a government they don't like.

People were still hungry, homeless and starving years ago but they only seem to want to shout to the rooftops about it when the Tories are in.

And for anyone saying it's hard to get a food bank voucher, go and try it. The bigger the numbers on their figures the better for theirs cause.

A guy in my local got a package from the one in Coalville and he lives in a five bedroom house and and has a good pension.

[MooseBreath]

The trussel trust franchises these food banks out for a fee. They reckon they make no profit on the fee, but who's to say. They also get donations, so add the fees and the donations together and I'm sure they are making good money. Though they describe themselves as "non-profit", they pay their directors a salary of £40k per annum - I doubt most of them devote more than half an hour a week to it. Not bad work if you can get it. On top of that anyone who works for them gets the living wage - so it's a pretty attractive place to work for a lot of people.

They're setting up these franchises all over and getting more and more places to give out vouchers. This is building up their brand and increasing the amount of donations they receive. They seem to have some inside-government power as well to get their vouchers into all these places (no surprise since the main stakeholders are all thoroughbred Tories ).

All in all a clever little business plan which seems to have been pretty well executed. No doubt we'll see those director salaries rise, and i'd love to see what they've put on expenses.

Edited 23 December 2013 by MooseBreath

[Rincewind]

A vast majority of the time, I'm nice to people because I like being seen to be nice to people (omg psychopath test wtf) though occasionally it's a feeling of obligation. That's probably a nice way of saying guilt.

people are not born bad or nice. It depends on how you are brought up, the people you associate with throughout your school years, social and workplace. I cannot hate or discriminate or stereotype those that I do not know. I do not see that as political just having respect for others. Like others I also do not go out my way to help people but if I see or hear of something which I regard as injustice I will say so. And I think the fact that in Britain today over 70000 children will go hungry at Xmas is wrong regardless of the reason and for MP's who have never had to want for anything to mock when hearing this is disgusting.

[Webbo]

people are not born bad or nice. It depends on how you are brought up, the people you associate with throughout your school years, social and workplace. I cannot hate or discriminate or stereotype those that I do not know. I do not see that as political just having respect for others. Like others I also do not go out my way to help people but if I see or hear of something which I regard as injustice I will say so. And I think the fact that in Britain today over 70000 children will go hungry at Xmas is wrong regardless of the reason and for MP's who have never had to want for anything to mock when hearing this is disgusting.

Apart from bankers, businessmen, Daily Mail readers and people who make an effort at work. You're a living saint.

Edited 23 December 2013 by Webbo