Hi guys I hope all is well. I say this because, without exaggeration, the United Kingdom is falling apart – or probably more accurately, is being crumbled apart by a Conservative government who knows that if they keep people oppressed, whether by poverty, basic need, money, hunger, heat and comfort, they keep the masses, the fodder as one minister of government described the people oppressed and ‘under control’ or powerless.. That word was used when General Haig sent the working masses to war in 1914 – send the fodder to their ……..
Anyhow in this short piece I want to flag up Foodbanks. The date is 21st August 2022. We have had these service points, Foodbanks, for over 2 years across the nation, in some places, much longer. They have grown in number, in type and content as well as approach and focus on demographics – it’s not just starving people using them now – or if it is, there are more people starving than ever before. Actually, whatever the changes mean, that last fact is true no matter what.
Statistics in todays national newspapers offered up ‘4 million now in starving territory along with energy/heating poverty. In Scotland 1 in 4 children are in poverty’. Check out how it is when you are reading this, see if anything has moved on. I wouldn’t be surprised if it’s not worse.
What is a food bank though? What does it do? Well, there’s a whole bunch of them across the UK run by an organisation called the Trussel Trust who have a model of referral – other support organisations – social workers, health visitors, GP’s – have to refer people, families to the Trust for support – mostly foodstuffs. The main difference between this model and many more – many many more – independent ‘banks, is that there isn’t fixed limits to numbers of attendances, visits. Thats not a criticism really, it’s an observation on how much food is available for so many people who can’t afford to buy food. The independent ones say that you don’t have to fulfil criteria, but come along when you need help. That is a risky approach of course – risk of running out of food stuffs and other supplies. Each bank devised and built up it’s own sources of food, many variations on a theme, most supported by local people, church congregations, community council supporters, people doing shopping, dropping ‘stuff’ off. I saw a village flower show, yesterday, donating its produce of vegetables and flowers to the food bank. ( Even poor people deserve the splash of beauty in a poor home). This is happening all over the country. Other variations too – links with small shops, supermarkets , suppliers saving waste for poor people – there you go, we send our waste stuff to save our poor people.
This all done by a rich hierarchy in the UK .
What do you get from a food bank? The obvious, but tinned and store-up basics, pastas, some sweet stuff, vegetables. Pet food, toiletries, feminine hygiene products, some cleansing products.
The demand is growing as the citizens of our country get poorer – the middle classes grow more selfish by the year, those political power, obscenely wealthy have no idea about what the nation needs to grow into its confident, well self.
I wrote to our local member of the united Kingdom Parliament and complained about the growth of the levels of poverty – he answered that there was no poverty, use of foodbanks was, is, a lifestyle choice there was 3 food banks in the borders then, there are 16 now. He said that if there were banks in Germany, it was ok to have them here.
His name is John Lamont MP. A conservative, rare across Scotland but not in the Borders – the Conservative cohort here is an insidious , self interested bunch- but there are lots of them.
Mr Lamont is a spineless grabbing politician with no policies except the prime ministers, voting with another cretin, who has just resigned – that is an indicator Mr Lamont of what and who you are – local needs don’t matter. I hope he gets thumped and humiliated in the next election.
Anyhow more of this I’m sure.
In the next blog I’ll attack the food banks from another angle – a more personal line when I and my family had to use them on a number of occasions.