Following on from Mr.I's good luck with a major Supermarket and his intention to give his reward to a Food Bank I thought I'd check this Food Bank disgrace out.

2010 there was 35 Food Banks in the UK.
2024 there is approximately 2,800 Food Banks and Emergency Food Suppliers in the UK.

2009 just under 26,000 people used a Food Bank.
In 2024 3.12 million people have used a Food Bank.

In 2024 it's a National disgrace that even 1 person has to use a Food Bank in the UK.
How did this happen??
Why did this happen??

Discuss.

Me Mam says they are all pitching up at the food bank near her in taxis and nice cars. I don't know how reliable that is. However, we were poor when I was a kid. She ALWAYS managed to feed us. I don't know why it was possible in the 80s and clearly not now.

I’ve seen it with my own eyes because someone’s business had to close because of it.
If anyone wants to know the background pm me.
Obviously all people going to a food bank obviously aren’t flush, but it certainly happens.

So much more stuff to spend yer money on these days. Why spend money on food when you can get it for nowt.

Probably all Nigel Farage's fault or those evil Tories who were all 'lining their pockets' land aughing at children dying in the streets.

About 2 years ago I had 20 minutes to spare for the next Bus so popped into the Library. I couldn't believe how busy it was...but people were stood in lines...Inbetween barriers. Took me about 5 minutes to realise what it was...Food Bank queue. I recognised 3 people...without looking at everyone...who I knew in a queue of about 150...they saw me and looked down. Sad state of affairs and downright FUCKING Disgraceful!!!
But Starmer 4 Months blah blah FUCKING BRA!!! TITS!!!

I totally agree Oddie....people have 95" Tellies to pay for and Shakira's dance lessons. Who needs food?? Only the weak...yeh daft get!!
Did somebody say Jussssttttttttt Eattt???

Can we have an adult conversation about this Oddie instead of wight wing wacist whetoric...Woddie?

The truth is somewhere in the middle, just as Snowy said. It is far too big a trend to deny food banks exist because there are people finding themselves in an awful situation that was none of their doing. However, there are people who won't concede that there is a problem with folks not willing to prioritise spending money on feeding their families The problem I guess, is vhow do you look after the former in a dignified way while deterring the latter?

That bottom of the ramp HQ is growing in numbers.
At least they haven't brought their hard as fuck dogs with them for a while.

An adult conversation with the likes of you? Ooh me ribs.

Very odd...Oddie.

So are you all in agreement that Food Banks haven't multiplied in numbers under the tories and that the only people that use them don't really need to use them...seriously??

Nobody has said that, but like everything in life some will abuse the system. Bit like Labour treating every pensioner who gets more than £11k pa not needing the WFA isn't it?
It's an absolute disgrace that a country that claims to be a World leader has more and more people dependent on food banks, especially as more and more tax payers money is being spent on feeding and housing more and more illegal arrivals, and on overseas aid. The moral should be to look after your own before helping others.
Can't see anything other than more and more poverty though after that budget and inevitably the loss of more jobs. Let's see how Two Tier improves the situation, hopefully sooner rather than later.

Not me. But...

Do YOU accept that there is abuse?

Why do you think low income families didn't need them years ago? Does it cost more to live now? Inte rrnet mobile phones etc... hard to function without them these days.

Nowt to do with politics.
I think some people’s priorities have changed and you have people who for arguments sake puts a decent Phone higher up their priorities nowadays because it’s seen as more important to them.
People seem to have different values.
It’s the world we live in.

a case of if the neighbours have something then so should we. since 2009 there has been more and more pressure on families to a point even a week in scarborough is called a staycation and not a holiday giving the impression of if it aint abroad it aint a holiday. big question to ask is do people actually get enough benefits to eat and keep warm or are food banks themselves helping to increase their standard of living. i,d guess now our grandparents and parents would have used the money they get much more wisely than todays families do. like many things on todays world something that started out to help a very small minority has grown out of proportion to those who actually do need it.

From my limited knowledge you can’t just turn up at food bank and request food, a food voucher is required to get help from a food bank. Community organisations such as housing associations, GPs and advice charities can provide a referral for a food voucher, which is then exchanged at a food bank for a food parcel.
Hard to believe the U.K. is the 6th richest economy in the world yet we have people, homeless and people using food banks, some thing wrong somewhere ?

100% correct Snowy we live in a very materialistic world, bigger houses, bigger cars, bigger electronic gadgets appear to come before putting food on the table.

What did these people do before food banks?
For some it means more disposable income for other things.
A good percentage of users would be no worse off if they never existed and it would be naive to assume otherwise.

Especially when it is more important to have a mobile phone in yer hand as against a sandwich, so they rely on someone else for the sandwich.

There's abuse of everything. And yes it does cost more to live now.

Unbelievable.

Haven't any of you seen the film I Daniel Blake?

I actually thought that a Thread about Food Banks would have been untouchable even to you lot...how wrong I was.
Bring Back The Bunker of Yesteryear.

Alternatively, why not construct your own football message board because this one is clearly not to your liking? Obviously I would badly miss your fascinating insights into the world of Hartlepool football but I would get over it.

As for the foodbank thread, have you considered the fact that not everyone thinks the way you do? As I suggested above, if you are discovering not enough people agree with you, move on to a space inhabited by like minded people. Think about it, you could create your very own The Bunker of Yesteryear. I am sure it would extremely popular.

You’d better believe it….
Experience opens eyes.
I experienced it.

Is this what it’s all about, longing for the good old days to return…where everyone agreed (complied) or moved on ..one man’s paradise is usually another man’s ’toeing the Party line’
The thing about the board now, is there’s challenges amongst users, no more cosy party line, you say something and someone has the right to challenge, as it should be. Everyone has an opinion and is allowed to air it, not be hounded for having it, no matter how disagreeable you find it.

Imagine a world where you can’t agree with anyone incase it’s mistaken as ‘complying’!

As with every topic it’s not black and white, and while the system has been abused I did think there would be more empathy.

I'm lost for words honestly...and I actually know some of these people.

Good idea Oddie.

Wasn't like that at all Snowy and you know it.

I might surprise you here but I always felt it was like that, there was a pecking order… and there was the cream…..there were certain views and topics never mentioned because it would be against the boards ‘constitution’ and viewpoint…..and quickly buried.
There was no real discussion .
I left during the break up, not because of any sympathy with departures but because of the way it went…and had time away.
I returned eventually and found it different, made me feel more comfortable even though I don’t agree with everything …but we all have different views and why should people agree with me if they don’t want to, but I don’t take offence if they differ from me.
If I had to go back to the old bunker I’d take up crocodile wrestling instead.

From experience, it was complying, but I don’t comply now…I have my opinion, you have your opinion….we can challenge opinions but not change them or silence yourself in deference to the majority.
Debate can be problematic, even paopinful….but I prefer debate to accepting something I don’t agree with.

I never said all people who use food banks don’t need them, some do, but you assume I’m painting everyone with the same brush, which I’m not.
When this government comes to election time, will there be a need for food banks still…..? because that’s what I’d class as a successful goverment.

There'll be no food banks at the end of his term they'll be called community catering hubs and be hailed as a success when measured against some extremely difficult metrics.

I think there is empathy, it's just the abuse of the system irritates the living daylights out of people who bust a gut to make ends meet. Understanding that is as important as understanding how crazy it is that foodbanks are needed in the first place.

That makes total sense and well put but prior to the comment I made, I wasn’t seeing much acknowledgment that not everyone is gaming the system and food banks are a result of financial hardship.

People will always take advantage of others goodwill but the food bank situation is crazy and suggests a huge number of people are struggling. Older men, are usually traditionally turning into Victor Meldrew and lack the empathy of others in society and we appear to have that in spades on this forum.

Old men… ..how old are you…14……?what a ridiculous point to make.

Everyone is not gaming the system, but a percentage are and anyone saying there isn’t is as credible as a stuttering bingo caller.
I’ve met quite a few on a daily basis through work who as far I’m concerned abuse charities.
Thank God it’s not my problem anymore.
I’d also like to see charities deliver food to applicants rather than embarrass people having to queue in public which in my opinion is humiliating for applicants.

edit

I must say, I am fecking sick to death of people coming on here to complain about those who dare to venture an opinion. If there is an objection to someone's opinion then by all means challenge it but why attack the forum in general? As I have said before, if the prevailing atmosphere in here does not suit some individuals, they are quite at liberty to go elsewhere and find a suitable echo chamber, I suspect there are plenty available.

Didn't the original post invite discussion, and isn't that what's happening?

Yes the original post invited discussion to which there is no objection. However:

"Older men, are usually traditionally turning into Victor Meldrew and lack the empathy of others in society and we appear to have that in spades on this forum"

I object to this crass generalization which drips sanctimonious moral superiority. It is a lazy attack on the board users in general. It is not discussion.

As an ‘older man’ I unashamedly go into ‘Victor Meldrew mode on occasion and yes I totally lack the empathy of others in society. However, this is not borne of old age, I had to work hard and often fight to keep myself in full employment from the tender age of 16 until I eventually retired at the age of 64 with a half decent company pension. As I see, it all able-bodied UK citizens have the capacity to educate, push themselves into a working life, live their lives in a similar manner and retire with a good pension- as opposed to giving up and living off state benefits, handouts and food banks.

far better putting your point of view forward even if you get flak for it than trying to win a popularity contest by being all things to all men. jnow i aint popular with my over 50,s group because i dare have an opinion and not take the easy route of being a yes man. possibly if i had i would have been more succesful in life but like other family members we didn,t give a toss about that but could hold our heads up high.

its called pride mate. its not a new thing either as my ex father in law left school in glasgow at the height of the depression but always kept himself in work even if he had to travel or move to england to do it. he has not a high opinion of his countrymen who just moaned and did nothing for themselves.

Wish I was

Give over, Everyone has a go on this forum.That's why it's entertaining.

I agree with that