Bolton’s first food bank works to help address ‘shocking poverty' in Farnworth

11:50am Friday 8th March 2013 in News

THE cupboards are bare and you have no food to scrape a meal together for you or your family.

You would go to the shop, but the gas bill needs paying and the car’s MOT is due next week.

With all these outgoings stacking up, how are you going to feed your family?

This is a familiar scenario for people across Bolton adjusting to life in a recession — a scenario epitomised by the opening of the town’s first food bank in Farnworth.

The number of people using the food bank has gradually increased since it opened at the beginning of December — mostly by those struggling to cover the costs of feeding a family.

Now it helps up to eight families a day.

It is 1pm on a Thursday at the food bank base at the Well Cafe in Farnworth Baptist Church and a steady flow of clients — many with pushchairs — are coming through the door.

On arrival, they are asked by the volunteers how many people they need to feed and are given a cup of tea while they wait for their food to bagged up.

A father-of-two, who wished to remain anonymous, was referred to the food bank by the Job Centre.

He explained: “This is my second time I’ve been here for food.

“I heard about it from a friend and I had also seen them on the television.

“I’ve been out of work for four weeks. I’m a roofer and scaffolder and the weather’s been so bad a lot of my work has been cancelled.

“I come here for the kids really.

“I think if I was on my own I would just find a way to survive but because I’ve got kids it’s different.”

The food bank was set up by the church in response to alarming statistics showing the high rate of children in Farnworth living in poverty.

According to research published by the Campaign to End Child Poverty, 39 per cent of youngsters — about two in five — are classed as living in poverty in Farnworth and Halliwell, one of the highest rates in the country.

Alex Malone, project manager, said: ”I was so shocked when I first heard about the level of poverty in Farnworth that I felt like we had to do something.

“We are a church and there’s always going to be hesitation from some people about coming because of that, but we try and separate the church as much as we can from the food bank.”

To get vouchers for the food bank, people must be “in crisis” and referred by a separate agency such as the New Bury Community Centre or the Job Centre.

Bernadette Tither, centre manager at New Bury Community Centre and Farnworth parents Group, added: “For people to get vouchers, they have to be in a crisis period. It could be someone who has had a big bill or their MOT is due, or a change in benefits. It can be caused by a whole range of reasons. So when they get referred, they will have access to three days worth of food.”

Another client at the food bank, a mum-of-two, who also did not want to be named, explained her situation.

The 22-year-old said: “I was having trouble paying off my debts and I couldn’t get a crisis loan, so they suggested I came here.

“It’s pretty depressing to be honest. They’re very nice here and make it feel okay that you’re here. I come here to feed my kids.”

Debt repayments, unemployment and the increased cost of food seem to be the most common cause of food poverty here.

Another couple say they reached crisis point because they could not negotiate their debt repayments.

The mum-of-three said: “We heard about here at the job centre. We’re really struggling at the moment and we’ve got three children to feed “I didn’t know what I was going to do because I needed to buy nappies and milk for the baby. You do get a milk allowance, which helps, but it doesn’t cover it all.”

Each client at the food bank is allocated enough food to last them for three days, based on how many people they are feeding.

For example, a couple with at least three children to feed will be given about six to seven shopping bags of non-perishable food.

Clients are also given a menu with meal suggestions for the three days, such as tinned tuna with tomatoes and pasta or ham hash (tinned meat) with tinned vegetables.

The Trussel Trust, the franchise which supports the Farnworth food bank along with 280 others in the UK, gives guidelines on making the meals as nutritious as possible — even with non-perishable foods.

The Farnworth and Kearsley Foodbank has committed to three years with the Trust. Mrs Malone added: “We’ll be open for a minimum of three years but I expect it will be longer with the way things are.”

Other agencies who can refer people for vouchers include the Farnworth UCAN Centre, the Farnworth Parents Group and the Caritas charity shop in Newport Street.

The Job Centre is also informally referring its service users to the appropriate agencies.

For more information, go to farnworthkearsley.

foodbank.org.uk

Comments(51)

marco999 says...
9:29am Fri 8 Mar 13

On a recent journey back home to Bolton from Manchester on the train, A young woman struck up a conversation with me. She told me that she had two kids and that their father had ‘done one’ as she put it. She told a tale of crushing poverty where the electricity was regularly turned off and she didn’t know where the next meal was coming from and how she often had to feed her children on boiled noodles because they’re ‘only 9 pence from Asda.’ I was shocked and genuinely concerned with her plight. Our conversation ended when we had reached her stop, but as she got up she said : “Well I have to get off here, it’s been a long day and all I want to do is get home and relax with a glass of wine and a fag!”
Of course I am not suggesting that these people who have to use the food bank in Farnworth are taking free food for their kids whilst treating themselves to booze and fags but I am suggesting that with some people it does happen! I have met many people who complain about struggling financially yet manage to find the money to drink and smoke. I’m only guessing because I don’t smoke but I reckon a packet of 20 cigarettes is at least £5 or more these days? I know for a fact that I can easily buy ample food to feed my partner and I for a day with £5. If you add up a weeks worth of cigarettes and wine (3 bottles for a tenner at Asda) you’re probably spending somewhere in the region of £40-60 per week – you can buy an awful lot of food at Aldi for £40 – just saying. My sympathies lie with the genuine folk out there who are struggling to feed their families though no fault of their own and I wish them the best of luck in getting their lives back on track.

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underwater says...
10:09am Fri 8 Mar 13

Agree with marco999 , I would like to see what kind of mobile phone these people are using ,most of the folk who are crying poverty have the latest model along with expensive ugly tatoos and designer clothes. Why do they keep having kids if they have no income, have they not heard of birth control. As long as there are people feeling sorry for them and providing help the situation will not improve. Let them stand on there own two feet and if they go hungry it might teach them a lesson.

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tommy says...
10:31am Fri 8 Mar 13

Shocking pvberty is the worst type of pvberty.

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tiname cole says...
12:39pm Fri 8 Mar 13

lol @ tommy. I agree with both underwater and marco999, however, regardless of bad financial choices made by some parents, children still need to eat. Food banks are a fantastic resource for families in crisis, ensuring kids and adults don't go hungry. I hope negative comments don't discourage genuine people in need of help from using the food banks for fear of being labelled a "scrounger". Equally i hope comments shame and discourage those abusing the foodbanks when they splash their cash on frivolous non-essentials such as alcohol and cigarettes.

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twowok says...
12:47pm Fri 8 Mar 13

I am fortunate that don't live these peoples lives nor do I want to, it must be terrible not being able to feed your family properly, nor do I judge. The fact is that food banks should not be needed, everyone should have enough money for the basics food, clothes, shelter, warmth and yes the odd luxury too, after all we all like to treat ourselves a little after an hard day. And yes it is hard seeing your children go without, not being able to feel on a level with their peers, having to try to provide as normal a life as possible on next to no money. It is both emotionally and physically straining, and I do know because I have been their in the past., funnily enough the tories where in power then too, something of a track record but not one to be proud of.

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zoomzam says...
12:49pm Fri 8 Mar 13

Despite there being some who claim poverty when their lifestyles betray them, there are many genuine cases of poor people in this country. And to think that this is a developed country makes one boil. A few days ago Foreign Secretary Haig announced the giving of expensive equipment to Syrian opposition fighters. He is prepared to go to War there too. Where does he get the money from? Cameron pleaded poverty yesterday in Yorkshire. Bankers continue to pocket millions, American Companies pay no taxes here....and we keep on electing idiots to lead us! Geez!

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cliff4treasurer says...
1:14pm Fri 8 Mar 13

A disgrace i think,surely the foodbanks should be also be providing fags and wine for the adults.This is after all a church based organization and i am sure they could get at least five bottles of wine from a pint of water.
It's been done before so i am sure it could easily be done again if these inconsiderate people put there minds to it.
How are these adults supposed to relax in front of there 42 inch plasmas watching j.Kyle all day every day without there sustenance,a disgrace a bloody disgrace ,flog em all i say flog em all.
Anyway i've said nmy peace,i'm off to a committee meeting with hopefully a free lunch and a bit of attendance allowance thrown in,black forest gateau Fridays,yum yum.

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boltonnut says...
1:16pm Fri 8 Mar 13

While it is very upsetting to know that children are going hungry I must agree with the water polo comments.Where I live they have food banks and they also attract the drinkers, smokers,druggies,(wh
en they are coherent) tatoos appear to take up quite a bit of their governmentt hand outs too.Where are the parents? IF my chidren or grandchildren where hungry I would feed them my self,god forbid.For all the charity food banks offer they do not promote independence and self help.

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Reality50 says...
1:24pm Fri 8 Mar 13

Farnworth is in a terrible state but not surprising as the Labour Council take the people there for granted and know the sheep will always vote Labour so there's no incentive to spend resources there. Even global outfits like McDonalds shun Farnworth. I read somewhere that Farnworth is the largest place in Britain not to have a McDonalds or KFC or Burger King. These employers would at least provide employment to locals if they came here but they don't seem interested. As for food banks it is tragic and appalling when Cameron is spending record amounts on foreign aid yet we cannot feed our own working classes. As a country we lost our way under the Major government and Blair Brown and Cameron have driven us further into the mire. There is no long term vision economically or socially. I rarely see immigrants struggle on the breadline yet our own people are on their knees. Britain is broken but the 3 failed main political parties cannot or will not fix it.

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Toffee Si says...
3:55pm Fri 8 Mar 13

‘shocking pbverty' ....................
...............that sounds nasty!!

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Wigan Trotter says...
4:38pm Fri 8 Mar 13

Good job that some today were not living up to the mid fifties when the there was no benefit system like we now have, a free NHS in its infancy and rationing until 1954.

Even worse before the war when there was a depression and mass unemployment.

As for the increase in numbers at food banks, hardly surprising when people are telling others to visiit and claim poverty

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Dobbler says...
4:49pm Fri 8 Mar 13

Lets see...
DFS suite...check
Plasma screen.....check
iPhone 5 ....check
200 Fags....check
Lambrini....check
Bull Terrier...check
Stella (wife beater) beer.....check
Greggs pasties loyalty card....check
Jeremy Kyle poster over fireplace ....check
Kids called Kylie or Keannu...check
Housing benefit....check
free school meals......check
Unemployment benefit..check
From Farnworth...check
Food banks! Gimme a break! Farnworth must have the most trash and chavs in the UK. As marco said...its all about priorities. Stop molly coddling these feckless scum of the earth. Food these days is cheaper than ever - just stop blowing your free money and feed your children. As for the chavs themselves...let them starve or beter still...OD...do us all a favour.

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gnashville says...
5:44pm Fri 8 Mar 13

Saddened by some of the ignorant comments on here. It's so easy for people to label folk who rely on the Foodbank as "scroungers", but I bet most if not all the people who go there do so as a last resort, and not because they're on the scrounge.
One of the people mentioned is a roofer & scaffolder - the guy has a trade and has worked for a living until 4 weeks ago - and has found himself short of work (and an income) due to the weather and the economy. He has kids to feed and has needed the Foodbank's help. Thank God it's there for him and his kids!
Some of the posters on here really need to have a good look in the mirror, they really do.

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Dobbler says...
5:50pm Fri 8 Mar 13

I bet gnashvilles roofer friend still finds time for his pleasures though. As marco said...food is so cheap at the cut price supermarkets. If the roofer is a genuine case then he will get sufficient money from the state to be able to feed his family adequately at supermarkets. Society is going soft and its time people realised that food is more important than a big tv or leather sofa etc....get a grip.

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gnashville says...
5:51pm Fri 8 Mar 13

underwater wrote:
Agree with marco999 , I would like to see what kind of mobile phone these people are using ,most of the folk who are crying poverty have the latest model along with expensive ugly tatoos and designer clothes. Why do they keep having kids if they have no income, have they not heard of birth control. As long as there are people feeling sorry for them and providing help the situation will not improve. Let them stand on there own two feet and if they go hungry it might teach them a lesson.
"most of the folk who are crying poverty have the latest model along with expensive ugly tatoos and designer clothes". Really? Is this true?
You certainly state it as fact... yet it sounds like another lazy soundbite to me.

I don't know about "underwater" - perhaps "head-in-the-sand" might be a better username.

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gnashville says...
5:56pm Fri 8 Mar 13

Dobbler wrote:
I bet gnashvilles roofer friend still finds time for his pleasures though. As marco said...food is so cheap at the cut price supermarkets. If the roofer is a genuine case then he will get sufficient money from the state to be able to feed his family adequately at supermarkets. Society is going soft and its time people realised that food is more important than a big tv or leather sofa etc....get a grip.
Again, ignorance! You've no idea whether that fella "finds time for his pleasures". He's been out of work for four weeks, perhaps he's not yet eligible for state help. Perhaps if he does get state help it goes to pay his rent/mortgage.
"Society is going soft". Ah, a Daily Mail fan eh? Figures...

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atlas123 says...
6:23pm Fri 8 Mar 13

Benifits should be paid in food, electricity and gas vouchers that cannot be used for other things!

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Dobbler says...
6:35pm Fri 8 Mar 13

Gnashville
Err this 'roofer friend' couldnt be you could it? ;)
Why dont you canvass properties to have their roofs repaired by you? Its going to getter nicer soon weatherwise...you could get a lovely tan on those roofs - then you would really earn your pint of wife beater in some chav pub after work - rather than relying on me buying it you through my taxes.

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Blackrod says...
6:44pm Fri 8 Mar 13

Agree with atlas123 and macro999. Give up the sky contract before going for crisis loans. Some been brought up with the culture and think its essential living. Feel for the genuine cases, often the quiet people who don't like asking for help.

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boydell says...
6:50pm Fri 8 Mar 13

Question....Go to shops......pay gas bill or get MOT for car.
Answer.... Sell the car...pay the gas bill then buy food the with money you get for car.
Problem for a short time solved !!

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JustBecause says...
7:15pm Fri 8 Mar 13

Typical UK scrounging scum...and do gooders thinking they are helping.

Poverty, give me a break, if people were living on the tip or sleeping on the pavement like in Somalia, Africa Cambodia ect, then maybe that word should be used.

We don't have poverty in the UK we have people who expect a free lunch and sky TV or a car etc.

If you need hand outs for food or your going to to die, your need help dealing with your life in general, you clearly have no idea of how to budget.

As for mr scaffolder, there's such a thing as saving if after 4 week he cannot feed his family,makes either a crap scaffolder or has spent all his cash and has not got the foresight to save a few quid in case the **** hits the fan.

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JustBecause says...
7:19pm Fri 8 Mar 13

Oh my god..... Just read the bit about people can only get vouchers if they are in crisis, such as a big bill or there MOT is due...... What the hell is this country coming to when your kids food comes after your MOT

Even worse the idiots giving out this stuff thinks this is ok ....

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gnashville says...
7:24pm Fri 8 Mar 13

Dobbler wrote:
Gnashville Err this 'roofer friend' couldnt be you could it? ;) Why dont you canvass properties to have their roofs repaired by you? Its going to getter nicer soon weatherwise...you could get a lovely tan on those roofs - then you would really earn your pint of wife beater in some chav pub after work - rather than relying on me buying it you through my taxes.
In short, no, it's not me. I don't know the guy from Adam and nor do you - which is my point. You're too quick to tar these people as scroungers when you haven't the foggiest idea of their circumstances.

As far as I know, the people who get help from Foodbank are 'means tested' before being given vouchers to get a few days' worth of food, ie, people like Doctors or Job Centres (people who DO know the individual circumstances) issue the vouchers. You can't just turn up in your joggers with your fags in your pocket and Stella in a bag and ask for some free food, yet that is the repeated insinuation on here.

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JustBecause says...
7:54pm Fri 8 Mar 13

gnashville wrote:
Dobbler wrote:
Gnashville Err this 'roofer friend' couldnt be you could it? ;) Why dont you canvass properties to have their roofs repaired by you? Its going to getter nicer soon weatherwise...you could get a lovely tan on those roofs - then you would really earn your pint of wife beater in some chav pub after work - rather than relying on me buying it you through my taxes.
In short, no, it's not me. I don't know the guy from Adam and nor do you - which is my point. You're too quick to tar these people as scroungers when you haven't the foggiest idea of their circumstances.

As far as I know, the people who get help from Foodbank are 'means tested' before being given vouchers to get a few days' worth of food, ie, people like Doctors or Job Centres (people who DO know the individual circumstances) issue the vouchers. You can't just turn up in your joggers with your fags in your pocket and Stella in a bag and ask for some free food, yet that is the repeated insinuation on here.
They are scroungers end of story, NOONE is in poverty.

They come away laughing at the idiots handing this out, free shopping, more to spend on luxuries.

You can get one of these vouchers if your in crisis, such as your MOT is due, WTF!! everyone in the article is in the **** because they are in debt.

They will have mobiles, cars, sky, fags, booze, etc etc......

We had no money as kids, 30 years ago, I had one pair of socks for school, we never went hungry, or needed hand outs of food, my parents had priorities, fags, booze, cars, Holidays, etc were not one of them.

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chillibum says...
7:56pm Fri 8 Mar 13

, The amount of money given in benefits is more than enough to heat a property and feed and clothe the children. the fact that the money goes on fags ,booze drugs, sky package on 40-50" plasma tvs, tattoos and new nails. these feckless halfits see the children as a commodity for getting more money out of the system. There will be people going there who have a mortgage and recently lost the job and find things are very tough, for them I am truly sorry

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Love Bolton says...
8:10pm Fri 8 Mar 13

gnashville wrote:
Saddened by some of the ignorant comments on here. It's so easy for people to label folk who rely on the Foodbank as "scroungers", but I bet most if not all the people who go there do so as a last resort, and not because they're on the scrounge. One of the people mentioned is a roofer & scaffolder - the guy has a trade and has worked for a living until 4 weeks ago - and has found himself short of work (and an income) due to the weather and the economy. He has kids to feed and has needed the Foodbank's help. Thank God it's there for him and his kids! Some of the posters on here really need to have a good look in the mirror, they really do.
Well said. I agree.

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ALI MINIUM KHAN says...
10:05pm Fri 8 Mar 13

i want to comment on the stories they wont let me comment on, **** me off

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Love Bolton says...
12:15am Sat 9 Mar 13

I've given food to this foodbank. I agree that we shouldn't need this in one of the richest economies in the world. As far as I understand, sometimes things go wrong. If you are lucky you have friends and family who can support you, if not, then this is a good place to have. When I donated food they told me of their latest visit from a man who had had his benefit messed up as he wasn't familiar with the system and how things work, and there had been errors, and as a consequence he had an electricity/heating vs food challenge. The food bank does support this and helps people with food so they can keep on top of their bills where possible, so hopefully they can manage. In January when I donated it was really cold. I don't know which one I would have chosen food vs heat. What about you? Which one would you choose? And whilst I'm on, what do you think of these high street loan sharks, wonga etc, with their massive % interest? I've heard that they take first claim on any 'income/benefit' so you are permanently in arrears for everything else.

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Wigan Trotter says...
7:56am Sat 9 Mar 13

Yes, there is some poverty in the country, but then again, there are far more who claim poverty at the slightest whim!

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boddingtons101 says...
8:40am Sat 9 Mar 13

I see lots of obese people in Farnworth. I have never seen anyone who is anywhere NEAR starving to death. So cut the crap.

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Citizen Cane says...
9:33am Sat 9 Mar 13

We should separate the plight of the roofer from that of the professional scroungers. The roofer is temporarily in a sticky position and should be supported. Have respect for someone who will work.

The professional scroungers who manufacture children are the ones to be despised. They've clocked that endless benefits flow from the baby factory, which they lavish on themselves and consumer goods whilst neglecting the kids.

Childless benefit claimants are in a significantly worse position.

The other group that needs looking at are the non-genuine disabled with their endless demands and poor policing of how genuine or serious their disability really is. £500 a month for a taxpayer funded car - I'll have that. Disgusting.

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Dobbler says...
9:57am Sat 9 Mar 13

At least the tories are cracking down on the scum and slashing benefits. We cant really get hard line enough with this trash. Paying the scum with specific vouchers will only lead to a black market rate for them being exchanged for cash (say £50 food voucher having going rate of £30 cash). I had the misfortune to find myself walking through Farnworth last week and was horrified at the general standard of the population. Typically grossly obese, unwashed, smoking, gorging on pasties in the street, tattooed and swearing and pushing buggies with their future heir to Chavdom sat in it. No doubt going for credit for their mobile on their way home to watch J Kyle on their 50'' plasma whilst sat on their never never DFS sofa. You only have to look at the types of shops that prosper in this scum city of Farnworth to see where peoples priorities lie. Later on their new boyfriend pops round to execute the next stage of thier income strategy - another baby chav! Horrible place!

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BWFC71 says...
1:09pm Sat 9 Mar 13

JustBecause wrote:
gnashville wrote:
Dobbler wrote:
Gnashville Err this 'roofer friend' couldnt be you could it? ;) Why dont you canvass properties to have their roofs repaired by you? Its going to getter nicer soon weatherwise...you could get a lovely tan on those roofs - then you would really earn your pint of wife beater in some chav pub after work - rather than relying on me buying it you through my taxes.
In short, no, it's not me. I don't know the guy from Adam and nor do you - which is my point. You're too quick to tar these people as scroungers when you haven't the foggiest idea of their circumstances.

As far as I know, the people who get help from Foodbank are 'means tested' before being given vouchers to get a few days' worth of food, ie, people like Doctors or Job Centres (people who DO know the individual circumstances) issue the vouchers. You can't just turn up in your joggers with your fags in your pocket and Stella in a bag and ask for some free food, yet that is the repeated insinuation on here.
They are scroungers end of story, NOONE is in poverty.

They come away laughing at the idiots handing this out, free shopping, more to spend on luxuries.

You can get one of these vouchers if your in crisis, such as your MOT is due, WTF!! everyone in the article is in the **** because they are in debt.

They will have mobiles, cars, sky, fags, booze, etc etc......

We had no money as kids, 30 years ago, I had one pair of socks for school, we never went hungry, or needed hand outs of food, my parents had priorities, fags, booze, cars, Holidays, etc were not one of them.
YOU ARE PATHETIC!!!

I was unemployed for 15 months and NOPT eligable for any sort of benefits - I actually fell out of the system and was not one of the counted when it came to the official figures!!!!

To have a certaininty of getting a job nowadays one has to be registered with the Job Centre and many of the job agencies and guess what 99% of those one has to register via teh internet only - so how does one afford teh internet when not receiving any benefit and just living off savings??? Also one needs a mobile phone - I wasn't allowed to cancel my subscription as the contract was less than 18 months old and as such now have a CCJ because I could not pay the bill. I ended up getting a PAYG sim card and putting on £10/month. I do not smoke and I very rarely drink - I only drink when visitring relatives and it is often just 1 pint or 1 glass of wine druing the meal. I have a satellite dish but not sky - in fact I was able to cancel my subscription and go on whats known as Free-view (not the same as "Freeview" but same in what one can be recieved!). I had to give my car up and use public transport - and have you ever caught a bus in recent years? £3 for a single 10 minute journey!!!!.

Up until last month I was living off hand-outs from friends and family.

I now have gained employement and don't get my wage for another 28 days so that yet anothe rmonth of hand-outs.

The UK is much more poorer than one realises and yet we sopend BILLIONS on overseas aid and illegal wars.

Not everyone is a scrounger and you have fallwwn into the Governments hands of wanting all unemployed people being called a scrounger - a divided and conquer strategy!!!

Would you call all those who have served for this country, but being made unemployed due to cutsbacks but need teh ebenfits to survive as scroungers? I somehow don't think you would - wouldn't then make you a hypocrite?

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BWFC71 says...
1:14pm Sat 9 Mar 13

boddingtons101 wrote:
I see lots of obese people in Farnworth. I have never seen anyone who is anywhere NEAR starving to death. So cut the crap.
When one is starving the stomach does expand - I suggest reading a medical book and you will see!!!

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JustBecause says...
7:02pm Sat 9 Mar 13

What did everyone do before this food bank arrived??? Clearly starved to death in the street....

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toryhater says...
10:56pm Sat 9 Mar 13

Dobbler wrote:
I bet gnashvilles roofer friend still finds time for his pleasures though. As marco said...food is so cheap at the cut price supermarkets. If the roofer is a genuine case then he will get sufficient money from the state to be able to feed his family adequately at supermarkets. Society is going soft and its time people realised that food is more important than a big tv or leather sofa etc....get a grip.
get real, i know of workers who don't sonke,drink or do drugs and they are needing to use food banks IT IS A DISGRACE we will be opening the workhouses soon, and we are not far from that know, if you read the greater manchester poverty commission report, it doesn't describe people you wish to put into 'boxes' that are in severe poverty. There are tales of people working for £1 an hr, but attached to the job is a scruffy infested 1 roomed bedshit, once again the rich get richer and the poor get poorer, most of the food bank users are decent human beings. Dobbler open your eyes take the right wing tainted glasses off and see this declining society and hang your head in shame, shame that your view is so low of your fellow man

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Wigan Trotter says...
6:27am Sun 10 Mar 13

toryhater

Good job you were not around when I was a kid and there was far more poverty than today!

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Wigan Trotter says...
6:28am Sun 10 Mar 13

toryhater

Good job you were not around when I was a kid and there was far more poverty than today!

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SleepingThunder says...
7:38am Sun 10 Mar 13

There are people who take advantage of the system.But there are good familys out there struggleing so thank god for the peolple who do show a little compasion.I also think supermarkets could help these volentary organisations with food donations.

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JustBecause says...
9:43am Sun 10 Mar 13

Wigan Trotter wrote:
toryhater

Good job you were not around when I was a kid and there was far more poverty than today!
I probably was, we have nowt, one pair of socks for school, still got fed though, no hot water, no central heating, hand me downs ect.

I have no sympathy for these people, if they need £50 a week to feed there kids, then find it, do something, get of your arses...... Oh that's right standing in line with your hand out is much much. Easier, and I gets you home to watch Jeremy Kyle in your fake uggs.

This food should be sent to nations that have 1000's of kids dying each year from starvation, not the scroungers in the UK

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Dobbler says...
10:03am Sun 10 Mar 13

@toryhater.
How can anyone who doesnt smoke or drink need a food bank? If they are out of work they will be getting benefits of saome sort - FACT!!!!
Food is so cheap now that it should, and always so, be priority No 1. Go to Netto Aldi Lidl or bolton market....meals can be made for nothing. I stand by everyword that Farnworth and lots of Bolton too has an extreme number of scummy trash who simply have their priorities wrong. Worse than animals many of them. If youve been watrching People like Us on bbc3 then you will know exactly the sorts Im refering to. The adults should be sterilised in order to stop the next wave of trainee scum coming through to claim free money without contributing a thing. The sooner these scum are eradicated from society the sooner decent people who dont abuse the system will start to get a better deal.
£1 per hour? do me a favour - who on earth is working for that? Wheres your evidence? If they have a bedsit included with it (or bedshit as you said :)) then that means they are getting free accommodation and thata a totally different issue - or arent you bright enough to work that out?
To conclude, most of the food bank users are those who are too feckless to get their priorities right and budget correctly. Foos has never been as cheap in real terms.

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BWFC71 says...
12:36pm Sun 10 Mar 13

Dobbler, food has been much cheaper that it currently is, compared to the benefits being given out. In general terms over the last 5 years (since the start of the depression) food has gone up by 45% whereas benefits have gine down. most foods are up and some are down - yes you may get cheap food at certain places (but prices still far higher than 5 years ago) but that then has a knock on effect in that farmers are then screwed who then pay less to the employers, or have to make redundancies, which then has a knock on effect with spending power of families and end up with less money - a very vicious circle!

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SleepingThunder says...
5:06pm Sun 10 Mar 13

People who are of the 50's 60's era do not realise how difficult it is at the moment.People are playing right into the goverments hands with the us & them something for nothing attitude.
This food should be sent to nations that have 1000's of kids dying each year from starvation, not the scroungers in the UK.Along with the millions in aide we send.Do you not think we need to sort our own problems before spending money we have not got overseas?

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BWFC71 says...
7:46pm Sun 10 Mar 13

Here is the reality.... Unofficial figures suggest that there are more than 5.5 million unemployed. So does that mean that these people are scroungers?

So those forced from the army due to Government cuts are scroungers?

Those forced from the police force due to Government cuts are scroungers?

Those forced from public services, on the understanding that the private sector will take them on, because of Government cuts are scroungers?

Those who were made unemployed due to the continued depression (not recession as currently officially we are NOT in recession) are scroungers?

Those taking employment, majority of which are only part-time, and being paid the minimum wage which does not cover the cost of living and have to take benefits are scroungers?

So you are happy that everyone who claims a benefit of such sort are a scrounger - although that 99% of the population have paid for their benefits through paying National Insurance and other taxes?

The UK finances are a problem created by the last 2 Governments and the current government have compunded the down-turn by creating mass-unemployment, not creating work, not investing in work and actually giving the top 3% of the population a tax reduction whilst the working class are taxed even more (they are more taxed now that what they have ever been in modern history!!!) - the deficit has shrunk but the borrowing has increased - all of their own making and not because of so-called scroungers - a phrase/word/fantasy the Government have used to detract from the actual truth!!!

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biglad44 says...
9:06pm Sun 10 Mar 13

The main point being missed here is that the food is going to feed there children. TV mobile tattoos and any other thing that you think they shouldn't have is irrelevant when kids are going to school hungry. I have always worked and been lucky to provide for my family. But if I had to I would beg borrow or steal to feed my children.

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Ikillgobbykids says...
9:15pm Sun 10 Mar 13

Can you order food online?

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JustBecause says...
7:51am Mon 11 Mar 13

Ikillgobbykids wrote:
Can you order food online?
Probably the next plan, save the poor sods having to walk or drive to the food bank.

Why not cook it, or can we not a&e them eligible for meals on wheels.

Personally everyone who uses the food bank for here kids should be investigated for neglect or fraud.

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Scabz87 says...
4:28pm Tue 12 Mar 13

Maybe they should give out a free packet of condoms in their shopping too.

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Wigan Trotter says...
4:49pm Tue 12 Mar 13

Would have done some of them good to have lived when there was no central heating and people could only afford enough coal for one fire!

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bernie boy says...
7:38pm Wed 13 Mar 13

". . . or their MOT is due. . ." . In my opinion, cars are luxury. Nevermind the MOT, get some proper food in!

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toryhater says...
8:56pm Wed 13 Mar 13

Dobbler wrote:
@toryhater.
How can anyone who doesnt smoke or drink need a food bank? If they are out of work they will be getting benefits of saome sort - FACT!!!!
Food is so cheap now that it should, and always so, be priority No 1. Go to Netto Aldi Lidl or bolton market....meals can be made for nothing. I stand by everyword that Farnworth and lots of Bolton too has an extreme number of scummy trash who simply have their priorities wrong. Worse than animals many of them. If youve been watrching People like Us on bbc3 then you will know exactly the sorts Im refering to. The adults should be sterilised in order to stop the next wave of trainee scum coming through to claim free money without contributing a thing. The sooner these scum are eradicated from society the sooner decent people who dont abuse the system will start to get a better deal.
£1 per hour? do me a favour - who on earth is working for that? Wheres your evidence? If they have a bedsit included with it (or bedshit as you said :)) then that means they are getting free accommodation and thata a totally different issue - or arent you bright enough to work that out?
To conclude, most of the food bank users are those who are too feckless to get their priorities right and budget correctly. Foos has never been as cheap in real terms.
i did mean bedshit, but my point is this - the work house was a place were you worked and was provided with a roof and food, Dobbler paying a pound an hr and being given a bedshit isn't far off being back in that era. I'm bright enough to work that one out, My source was a member on the poverty commisson board giving a talk on poverty.

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