The 'hidden hunger' in British families

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-11427207

Food parcels are associated with famine-struck parts of the world. Yet there is a "hidden hunger" in Britain, according to one charity, which has seen a surge in demand for its emergency supply boxes.
Sara is a married mother of two school-aged children. She lives in a four-bedroom house, drives an expensive car... and has relied on food handouts to feed her family.

The Trussell Trust charity, which operates dozens of foodbanks across the country, says it is serving Britain's "hidden hungry". It mainly helps people who are not receiving benefits they would normally be entitled to, but also sees many families who fall into financial difficulty after the main breadwinner loses work.
That was the case with Sara's family.

This could happen to anyone..

Indeed it can.

I remember when I was hard up years and years ago, all I could afford to eat was broken biscuits for lunch, tuna and pasta for dinner and maybe as a treat one of those all day breakfast in a can with cheapo super noodles (once a week).

I wish I had known about these places then I can tell you.

[Ignitionnet]

My wife in a previous relationship was in this kind of situation, this while her then-partner was working.

It's really not nice and a harsh indictment of our benefit system but one that rarely makes the news sadly.

[Pauls9]

And people sometimes criticise those on benefits who turn to the black economy to try to make ends meet.

Nice to see something sympathetic for a change.

Excellent work from the Charity though .

[colin25]

I must admit..before reading this, I had preconceived notion of someone taking advantage of the system or charity. But, did catch me out, good to see others with such strong spirit to help others, and someone humble and embarrassed accepting (not expecting charity, but accepting it with humility).

Too often it isn't that way, at least, the stories that are publicised show the negative side of britain.

Not ashamed to admit a dry eye was close to being breached

[Flyboy]

Originally Posted by Maggy J

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-11427207





This could happen to anyone..

Hang on a minute:

Sara is a married mother of two school-aged children. She lives in a four-bedroom house, drives an expensive car... and has relied on food handouts to feed her family.

Here's an idea, sell the car, and the house and buy something less expensive and use what's left to pay for your own food.

Originally Posted by Flyboy

Here's an idea, sell the car, and the house and buy something less expensive and use what's left to pay for your own food.

The family has have now sold their house and are moving into rented accommodation. Both are now working, although Sara has yet to be paid.

[TheDaddy]

Originally Posted by Flyboy

Here's an idea, sell the car, and the house and buy something less expensive and use what's left to pay for your own food.

If only they had thought of that, oh wait...

Our first plan was to sell the car, as it's worth a fair bit, but we couldn't. Nobody wanted to buy it."

Originally Posted by Flyboy

Here's an idea, sell the car, and the house and buy something less expensive and use what's left to pay for your own food.

Clearly you didn't bother to read the article then. Allow me:

"We cut back on as many things as we could. Our first plan was to sell the car, as it's worth a fair bit, but we couldn't. Nobody wanted to buy it ... I had to drive down to the foodbank in a luxury car and pick up a food parcel to feed my family," she says. "How do you think that made me feel?"

and

The family has have now sold their house and are moving into rented accommodation. Both are now working, although Sara has yet to be paid.

But hey, why let the facts get in the way of naked class prejudice.

[Flyboy]

Originally Posted by TheDaddy

If only they had thought of that, oh wait, might be an idea to read the rest of the article before expressing indignation imo...

Our first plan was to sell the car, as it's worth a fair bit, but we couldn't. Nobody wanted to buy it."

Oops, it would have been a better idea, I must admit I only read it very quickly and missed that bit.

But how can someone who has a lifestyle like that get themselves into a position where they need food parcels. As for not being able to sell the car, someone will always want to buy it, but not at the price they might want to sell it for. It must have been a terrible car for someone not to want to buy it at all. I can't help wondering if they are largely responsible their own situation. Enjoying the trappings of a lifestyle they couldn't afford but ignoring things that really matter. It appears they still managed to go on holiday though.

It has to be said that the first thing i thought was "sell the car" thankfully i learned a long time ago to continue reading ,how many times has someone posted only to have it blow up in their faces because they either haven't checked facts or continued reading to the end
by the way lmao

---------- Post added at 22:07 ---------- Previous post was at 22:05 ----------

Originally Posted by Flyboy

Oops, it would have been a better idea, I must admit I only read it very quickly and missed that bit.

But how can someone who has a lifestyle like that get themselves into a position where they need food parcels. As for not being able to sell the car, someone will always want to buy it, but not at the price they might want to sell it for. It must have been a terrible car for someone not to want to buy it at all. I can't help wondering if they are largely responsible their own situation. Enjoying the trappings of a lifestyle they couldn't afford but ignoring things that really matter. It appears they still managed to go on holiday though.

you sure you read the rest of the article ..it's all explained in there you know and it's perfectly reasonable

[TheDaddy]

Originally Posted by Flyboy

Oops, it would have been a better idea, I must admit I only read it very quickly and missed that bit.

But how can someone who has a lifestyle like that get themselves into a position where they need food parcels. As for not being able to sell the car, someone will always want to buy it, but not at the price they might want to sell it for. It must have been a terrible car for someone not to want to buy it at all. I can't help wondering if they are largely responsible their own situation. Enjoying the trappings of a lifestyle they couldn't afford but ignoring things that really matter. It appears they still managed to go on holiday though.

Fair comments imo, don't really blame them though, many people struggle to accept changes in circumstance and hope to turn the corner any day, the need to accept food parcels may well have woken them up to the fact drastic action was needed.

Originally Posted by Flyboy

Oops, it would have been a better idea, I must admit I only read it very quickly and missed that bit.

But how can someone who has a lifestyle like that get themselves into a position where they need food parcels. As for not being able to sell the car, someone will always want to buy it, but not at the price they might want to sell it for. It must have been a terrible car for someone not to want to buy it at all. I can't help wondering if they are largely responsible their own situation. Enjoying the trappings of a lifestyle they couldn't afford but ignoring things that really matter. It appears they still managed to go on holiday though.

Keep digging.......

Sara is keen to point out that neither she nor her husband smoke or drink, and that the family had been using vouchers from newspapers for their last few holidays

[Flyboy]

Originally Posted by martyh

It has to be said that the first thing i thought was "sell the car" thankfully i learned a long time ago to continue reading ,how many times has someone posted only to have it blow up in their faces because they either haven't checked facts or continued reading to the end
by the way lmao

---------- Post added at 22:07 ---------- Previous post was at 22:05 ----------




you sure you read the rest of the article ..it's all explained in there you know and it's perfectly reasonable

You mean the bit where she said that they use vouchers from newspapers? All very well, but those vouchers wouldn't cover he cost of actually being on holiday.