21st Century Britain - Nurses forced to foodbanks

Quite a lot of generalising there. A link has been provided that shows a band 2 nurse taking home £300 a week. That's a top of band 2 nurse and there will be nurses earning less. I think the lowest figure was £15,251. A weekly take home of £262.51.

Do you really think it is impossible for someone earning so little to have to go to food banks?

You then assert that food banks serve people who cannot budget properly? Really? It is not inconceivable that people lose income, and it is not inconceivable that, even those in employment, have to choose to eat or heat. These are facts of life in the U.K. I can provide anecdotal evidence, but you could also do some fact checking before making these generalisations.

To assume that every food bank recipient is a negligent parent who prefers to smoke and drink indicates you may not have a true grasp on situations that people find themselves in. For example, you may earn £35000 a year, and live in a house that has a mortgage you can afford. Suddenly, bang, your job has gone. And you've just paid for little Johnny's trip to France for a school trip. And little Lucy needs more piano lessons. And the gas and electric gas just gone up 12%. And people who have never had a problem stand on the sidelines and make wild guesses about how you came to be in that situation.

Is it really impossible? I mean REALLY?

Those TV shows are not documentaries, they are edited in a way to get people talking, to get ratings up and to get advertising revenue in.

I speak to a few mums when I take my kid to school. I live in one of the poorest regions in the U.K. I think a conversation with one or two of these ladies would put aside so many misconceptions.

The system is abused, I know people who left school in the 90s who have never worked. They have little intention. But it is my opinion that the majority in receipt of benefits need those benefits. That's what makes us civilised, my great grandmother spent her early years in a workhouse.

The media form our (mis)conceptions of benefit claimants. But, 30 minutes following a single mum who cares deeply for her kid whilst trying to make ends meet (sacrificing food, heat whilst kid is in school etc) wouldn't make great TV and what about advertising revenues?

Lets hope we are not the only ones who realise this type of documentary is for entertainment and does not reflect the majority of people who are on benefits. This type of programme just stirs people up and give the viewer that feel good factor because they are not in the same boat.

I often say to my wife that the people portrayed in this kind of documentary would not agree to appear if they knew what idiots they look, in some ways the TV companies are taking advantage of the disadvantaged.

Probably like you I do not mind people abusing the system as long as the people genuinely in need are taken care of, benefit abuse is something that we just have to put up with as it will never be stamped out fully.

a viewpoint from last year for info.

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/b...rue-state-of-low-income-britain-a7031666.html.

I cannot abide those who abuse the system as the abuse has to be paid for somehow, and in balancing the books it is detrimental to pay awards for nurses, the basic living wage and other areas where cuts are hurting the basic decency of the UK.

It would be great if all claimants were legit. That they aren't is only an issue for me when genuine claimants are being tarred with the same brush. As with most things in life, the minority usually spoil it for the majority.

I think @Methersgate summed the subject of being poor rather eloquently in his thread in August 2014 and subsequent postings.

Thank you very much.

Here is the thread that you mention in such kind terms:

http://british-filipino.com/index.php?threads/poverty.9306/

The link isn't working for me, I'm afraid.

you need to log in on the page. i got in ok.