Food Banks Whats Going On?

unlacedgecko

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
Fife
I think it's great that you have found a system that works well in your circumstances and location.
You almost certainly could not farm the same way in this area.
So please don't be so condescending of those who have to work differently to suit their own circumstances/ location.

I think my system could be replicated anywhere in the country.

Why do you think it wouldn't work in Devon?
 

abitdaft

Member
Location
Scotland
There but for the grace of God! I don't mean in a literal sense just that life is more complicated. Mention above of people having children they cannot afford and yes there are folk that perhaps should think about how they are going to pay for them, but there are many more who find themselves left holding the baby when the love of their life fecks off. If you are working and getting on fine and then you suddenly become ill the bills still need paying and I am not talking about Sky et al, just the basics, food, heat, shoes etc. Most of us on here are worried about how we are going to feed our cows in the winter, not our children. I know people who have used a food bank and they are mortified by it. One is a young single mum ( wasn't single to start with ), full time job that paid just enough extra to be able to pay another young mum to look after her child and keep them both off benefits. An estimated electric bill came in saying that the electric company owed her over £700, she phoned them, meter got read and turns out she owed them nearly £3000 (faulty meter ). She got into debt to try to pay what she supposedly owed and even though she was refunded what she payed it did not cover the debts she had incurred. That was why she needed to use a foodbank.
 
We give some of our unsold products to our local foodbank regularly. The recipients need a referral from a GP or Social Services to access the foodbank. Sometimes, I must admit it is quite hard to hear a blinged-up smoking/vaping family of chavs, remark to one another that they get our stuff from the foodbank, but it is compensated for,by the people that will quietly come up and say thanks. We do it because nobody should go hungry, and almost all these families have children. It is never the children's fault that this situation has arisen for the family.
I absolutely agree with @Pieces_of_Eight that cooking or home economics ,along with education about budgeting should be made mandatory in all secondary schools.
 

som farmer

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
somerset
There but for the grace of God! I don't mean in a literal sense just that life is more complicated. Mention above of people having children they cannot afford and yes there are folk that perhaps should think about how they are going to pay for them, but there are many more who find themselves left holding the baby when the love of their life fecks off. If you are working and getting on fine and then you suddenly become ill the bills still need paying and I am not talking about Sky et al, just the basics, food, heat, shoes etc. Most of us on here are worried about how we are going to feed our cows in the winter, not our children. I know people who have used a food bank and they are mortified by it. One is a young single mum ( wasn't single to start with ), full time job that paid just enough extra to be able to pay another young mum to look after her child and keep them both off benefits. An estimated electric bill came in saying that the electric company owed her over £700, she phoned them, meter got read and turns out she owed them nearly £3000 (faulty meter ). She got into debt to try to pay what she supposedly owed and even though she was refunded what she payed it did not cover the debts she had incurred. That was why she needed to use a foodbank.
no problem with genuine users whatsoever.
and benefits are an 'intriguing' system, l have a disability, and receive a small personal independence payment. However, l thought one could claim all sorts of extras, so had a go, with the help of the local CAB, answer, zero, didn't qualify for anything extra, and the CAB said, its incredibly difficult to get anything more than the 'basic', l find that very hard to believe, as l agree with many of the remarks, on here, re, booze, fags, mobiles, big tv's etc , and the CAB tell me otherwise, l presume they know better.
 

Pasty

Member
Location
Devon
I know someone who has the food bank from stuff I do on our local community help group and what disturbs me is the stuff people donate. Most of it is utter trash, the worst of foods. This one lady gets 5 large bags (the huge supermarket strong ones) full of food every week and it's far too much. But they won't seem to cut it down as they want it out the door. Most of it is borderline out of date as well so most is spoiled before the next delivery comes. It's become a burden to her to be honest as she feels bad about throwing it away and most of her neighbours won't have any of it for fear of being shamed. Sad but true.
 

abitdaft

Member
Location
Scotland
no problem with genuine users whatsoever.
and benefits are an 'intriguing' system, l have a disability, and receive a small personal independence payment. However, l thought one could claim all sorts of extras, so had a go, with the help of the local CAB, answer, zero, didn't qualify for anything extra, and the CAB said, its incredibly difficult to get anything more than the 'basic', l find that very hard to believe, as l agree with many of the remarks, on here, re, booze, fags, mobiles, big tv's etc , and the CAB tell me otherwise, l presume they know better.
Some just know how to milk the system like in all walks of life, have you ever looked at MP's expenses claims? What pee's me off is seeing all foodbank users/ people on benefits etc being tarred as workshy etc. Things like zero hours contracts should be illegal, I know a lad who had a part time job whilst still being a student, his contract was worded for " up to 16 hrs per wk ), the manager did not like him, so some weeks he got 4 hours of the shittiest of shifts and other weeks he got no hours. My aunt has Ankylosing Spondilitis ( sp )and had to take DWP to tribunal over pip, most days she can barely walk and has been in hospital more than out, I have never seen a person graft like she would. I just don't like the generalisation that everyone who needs help is at it. As for teaching about food in school, absolutely! But it has to be better than the crappy standard that I remember. A tupperware of thin watery soup that was vile and teachers that were coasting.
 

Poorbuthappy

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
Devon
I think my system could be replicated anywhere in the country.

Why do you think it wouldn't work in Devon?
The system could work I'm sure.
Would you pay the £100+ per acre much of the ground makes down here for summer let's.
Ground near me was making £200+ 15 years ago when we came here. Summer let. Good ground but not arable.
Not large areas either. Odd fields here and there, 20-30 acres if your lucky.

Not saying there aren't opportunities, but the above is the norm.

But we're OT
 

steveR

Member
Mixed Farmer
Rents on property have increased due to the constant demands of rules of this goverment and the expectations of tenants wanting new carpets,etc ,and rent arrears.Just wait until the landlords start selling when all property has to be epc C and gov expects landlords to pay up to £10k per property.I could have 6 very good tenants looking for a new home though no fault of theirs.Simply because going from D to C would never be recovered on rent or value
100%

More ridiculous greenwash bollox, much like the push for ASHP everywhere
 

unlacedgecko

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
Fife
The system could work I'm sure.
Would you pay the £100+ per acre much of the ground makes down here for summer let's.
Ground near me was making £200+ 15 years ago when we came here. Summer let. Good ground but not arable.
Not large areas either. Odd fields here and there, 20-30 acres if your lucky.

Not saying there aren't opportunities, but the above is the norm.

But we're OT

No I wouldn't.

The farm I lambed on the last 2 years has been taken back in hand by the estate following a long time tenant retiring. Reportedly, the steading is £8k pa on a 5 yr FBT, with the 100 acre grassland on an annual licence at £100/ac.

That's why my sheep are now on summer tack on the isle of wight.

I can't afford to do anymore charity work for landowners. If I don't find the right land opportunity I may well be doing something else next year.
 

Poorbuthappy

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
Devon
No I wouldn't.

The farm I lambed on the last 2 years has been taken back in hand by the estate following a long time tenant retiring. Reportedly, the steading is £8k pa on a 5 yr FBT, with the 100 acre grassland on an annual licence at £100/ac.

That's why my sheep are now on summer tack on the isle of wight.

I can't afford to do anymore charity work for landowners. If I don't find the right land opportunity I may well be doing something else next year.
And that's why I'm not farming 1000s of acres. Refuse to pay the big rents, but have picked up odds and ends at sensible money.

We're almost back on topic - budgeting 🤣
 

som farmer

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
somerset
Some just know how to milk the system like in all walks of life, have you ever looked at MP's expenses claims? What pee's me off is seeing all foodbank users/ people on benefits etc being tarred as workshy etc. Things like zero hours contracts should be illegal, I know a lad who had a part time job whilst still being a student, his contract was worded for " up to 16 hrs per wk ), the manager did not like him, so some weeks he got 4 hours of the shittiest of shifts and other weeks he got no hours. My aunt has Ankylosing Spondilitis ( sp )and had to take DWP to tribunal over pip, most days she can barely walk and has been in hospital more than out, I have never seen a person graft like she would. I just don't like the generalisation that everyone who needs help is at it. As for teaching about food in school, absolutely! But it has to be better than the crappy standard that I remember. A tupperware of thin watery soup that was vile and teachers that were coasting.
90% of pip applications, are turned down, you have a arbitrary right to challenge that, again 90% refused, next step, is a tribunal, where 90% are granted, CAB figures. I have always 'passed' on the arbitrary appeal.
Can see some logic, to 'weed' out invalid claimers, but the truth is, it probably puts of the really genuine claimants, who feel 'bad' about claiming.
The whole system desperately needs overhauling, as does the NHS, but to achieve that, would be the death knell, of whichever party, is in power. The truth is, it would be to the benefit of all.
 

Pasty

Member
Location
Devon
90% of pip applications, are turned down, you have a arbitrary right to challenge that, again 90% refused, next step, is a tribunal, where 90% are granted, CAB figures. I have always 'passed' on the arbitrary appeal.
Can see some logic, to 'weed' out invalid claimers, but the truth is, it probably puts of the really genuine claimants, who feel 'bad' about claiming.
The whole system desperately needs overhauling, as does the NHS, but to achieve that, would be the death knell, of whichever party, is in power. The truth is, it would be to the benefit of all.
I helped someone with a PIP application and they got it first time. However, they were only given the mobility part (which is a need but not all) and of course, that means their carer (partner) cannot claim carers allowance. Scam and apparently very common. I was advised by CAB that they should not challenge it until the 4 years is nearly up for fear of losing all of it! This is a genuine person who has worked full time since school only to fall ill through no fault of their own. Now signed off work by a GP until further notice and needs help with most things. When it does need renewing I shall get all their ducks in a row and challenge the decision if need be.
 

som farmer

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
somerset
l was told when pip was stopped, had to apply for universal credit, not 'sick' pay, even though the doc would sign me 'sick' notes, basically, money would stop, till something else, went through the system. It's all designed to reduce claimants, the downside of that, is the really needy, and genuine claimants, get 'put off'.
 

Jackov Altraids

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
Devon
I think my system could be replicated anywhere in the country.

Why do you think it wouldn't work in Devon?

I believe you basically do B&B for sheep?....
Renting large areas and running fair numbers?

I can't speak for Devon, it probably has every type of ground/ farm, you can think of.

Within 10 miles of here there would be very few large fields. Lots of small family farms [which is why I believe you don't like them] and large dairy operations.
It takes at least 1/2 hour to do 10 miles due to the poor roads so you really don't want to be travelling to far between blocks.
Dairy farmers pay well for any grass and there's very little arable around.
We can also get up to 2m annual rainfall which with warm temperatures can grow a lot of grass but too many hooves at the wrong time and its a bog.
Just up the road on Exmoor, used to be the area with the most sheep/ square mile, anywhere in the world.
I think you'd find it hard to get started around here.
 

som farmer

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
somerset
the traffic, in Devon and Cornwall, this time of year, is truly awful, driving around to see different blocks of land, needs allowing double, at least, time to do it.
Son is threatening, to refuse to go to Exeter mkt, till the autumn, took double the time, 2 Friday's ago.
 

unlacedgecko

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
Fife
I believe you basically do B&B for sheep?....
Renting large areas and running fair numbers?

I can't speak for Devon, it probably has every type of ground/ farm, you can think of.

Within 10 miles of here there would be very few large fields. Lots of small family farms [which is why I believe you don't like them] and large dairy operations.
It takes at least 1/2 hour to do 10 miles due to the poor roads so you really don't want to be travelling to far between blocks.
Dairy farmers pay well for any grass and there's very little arable around.
We can also get up to 2m annual rainfall which with warm temperatures can grow a lot of grass but too many hooves at the wrong time and its a bog.
Just up the road on Exmoor, used to be the area with the most sheep/ square mile, anywhere in the world.
I think you'd find it hard to get started around here.

I own and operate a flock of Shetland based composites. Lambing 650 ewes on a low input outdoor system.

Tackers are taken in to match stocking rate to carrying capacity. I started in the milk field of Gloucestershire, grazing dairy farmers silage fields. All of them were small(ish) family farms. In one winter I had 11 landlords.

I also day contract.
 

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