Festive Dingbats 2024 C/D 6Th Jan
Quizzes & Puzzles8 mins ago
Children Go Hungry Over The Summer Holidays
66 Answers
Did anyone see Matt Alwright, matt Baker and Alex Jones- and inarticular Emma Thompson who had areal go at the government- looking at this issue yesterday.
Ther ahve also been newspaper articles eg https:/
Can it be true? 4 million children go hungry? Children are noticealy losing weight? parents chhosing bewteen food for them and food for their children. They acknowledged the problem ha sexisted for hundreds of years but the 'expert' seemed sure it had got a lot worse in the last 5-6 years and austerity. was mentioned . The case stud was anurse who had to take her children atoa food club.
I can see there is a point here that if we provide free school meals to millions of children in the term time we are accepting there is a problem in term time, so perhaps help should be extended to the holidays. But I find it hard to imagine that simple meals can't be provided at an affordable cost by parents (using child benefit)- jacket potatoes, carrot and lentil soup. bananas, blackberry crumble.
When I see these case studies I often want to ask questions no-one seems to ask - like how much do you spend on tattoes or on that piece of jewellery round your neck, do your dogs not eat either or if you are a single mum does the father contribute.
Is there a real problem here or is it something we should leave parents and charities to sort out. I'd like to see a TV documentary on some cases with perhaps someone like Ann Widecomb or Edwina Currie asking questions to balance the horrified/sympathetic BBC /Emma Thompson type views..
i'm also wondering how this loss of weight that's referred to fits in with the supposed obesity issues for children- maybe it's different children.
Sorry, not really a question, jsut a collection of ramblings and observations. I wondered what others think.
Ther ahve also been newspaper articles eg https:/
Can it be true? 4 million children go hungry? Children are noticealy losing weight? parents chhosing bewteen food for them and food for their children. They acknowledged the problem ha sexisted for hundreds of years but the 'expert' seemed sure it had got a lot worse in the last 5-6 years and austerity. was mentioned . The case stud was anurse who had to take her children atoa food club.
I can see there is a point here that if we provide free school meals to millions of children in the term time we are accepting there is a problem in term time, so perhaps help should be extended to the holidays. But I find it hard to imagine that simple meals can't be provided at an affordable cost by parents (using child benefit)- jacket potatoes, carrot and lentil soup. bananas, blackberry crumble.
When I see these case studies I often want to ask questions no-one seems to ask - like how much do you spend on tattoes or on that piece of jewellery round your neck, do your dogs not eat either or if you are a single mum does the father contribute.
Is there a real problem here or is it something we should leave parents and charities to sort out. I'd like to see a TV documentary on some cases with perhaps someone like Ann Widecomb or Edwina Currie asking questions to balance the horrified/sympathetic BBC /Emma Thompson type views..
i'm also wondering how this loss of weight that's referred to fits in with the supposed obesity issues for children- maybe it's different children.
Sorry, not really a question, jsut a collection of ramblings and observations. I wondered what others think.
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^^^That is the most stupidest situation of recent years.
On what planet can it be right that a person earning £60,000 is not entitled to child benefit, and yet a couple earning £49,999 each is entitled to child benefit?
The absurdity is even greater when you consider the person earning £39,998 less than the couple earning £99,998 is paying for the higher earning couple's child benefit through his or her tax.
Bananas.
On what planet can it be right that a person earning £60,000 is not entitled to child benefit, and yet a couple earning £49,999 each is entitled to child benefit?
The absurdity is even greater when you consider the person earning £39,998 less than the couple earning £99,998 is paying for the higher earning couple's child benefit through his or her tax.
Bananas.
People on low incomes get free school meals. That's the major difference.
Mine are adults now but when they were little they looked at your net income. They didn't take into consideration how much your over heads were.
And before a joker says you can downsize that's not simple either. Selling houses isn't cheap.
Mine are adults now but when they were little they looked at your net income. They didn't take into consideration how much your over heads were.
And before a joker says you can downsize that's not simple either. Selling houses isn't cheap.
Thanks for all your observations and comments.
Well I certainly have had children and know what it's like. I suppose was lucky because my parents brought us up in real hardship (though but we didn't realise it at the time of course as we slept 3 in a tiny room and eating basic foods) and passed on skills of budgeting, eating well for less, only doing things when you could afford to do so. I was also lucky in that my parents made sure education was a priority and I was able to go to university where I also learnt to budget. My kids were alo lucky in that we decided to wait until we'd finished our degrees and professional exams and established our home and careers before we had our children. We knew what was in store because we could see the situation parents around us were in. It was fairly tough for a few years- the holidays abroad stopped and nights out became a rarity- but there was never an issue with food poverty.
Some parents and children are not so lucky. For some parents it's not down to bad luck of course- it is poor advice, poor decisions or maybe a culture of more kids = more benefits. It's not the fault of the children though and we should make sure that if parents are not providing properly, for whatever reason, the state should help support the children. I just think sometimes though it's too easy to step in after the event , or where help isn't really needed, rather than trying to prevent it happening or discouraging others.
Well I certainly have had children and know what it's like. I suppose was lucky because my parents brought us up in real hardship (though but we didn't realise it at the time of course as we slept 3 in a tiny room and eating basic foods) and passed on skills of budgeting, eating well for less, only doing things when you could afford to do so. I was also lucky in that my parents made sure education was a priority and I was able to go to university where I also learnt to budget. My kids were alo lucky in that we decided to wait until we'd finished our degrees and professional exams and established our home and careers before we had our children. We knew what was in store because we could see the situation parents around us were in. It was fairly tough for a few years- the holidays abroad stopped and nights out became a rarity- but there was never an issue with food poverty.
Some parents and children are not so lucky. For some parents it's not down to bad luck of course- it is poor advice, poor decisions or maybe a culture of more kids = more benefits. It's not the fault of the children though and we should make sure that if parents are not providing properly, for whatever reason, the state should help support the children. I just think sometimes though it's too easy to step in after the event , or where help isn't really needed, rather than trying to prevent it happening or discouraging others.
“Certainly an eye opener when they come along ummm. Its not just food and clothing. And when they start school its ridiculous how much you need to spend....school uniforms, sportswear for school, trips etc.”
“Nailit...very right. You don't think about those things when you have them.”
And there beginneth the first lesson. People embark on having children in the most unsuitable circumstances and once they do they find it extremely difficult to improve their lot. A little thought is needed before conceiving children.
“But I remember that food costs was a minor issue. The main cost was paying for activities (tennis/football coaching, zoos)- but we knew all that when we chose to have children”
It seems some of us don’t (see above). But in any case, those with limited funds should not be paying for their children to receive sports coaching when (allegedly) they are having difficulty finding the money to feed them.
“I saw a brief interview/article with a single mum of 2 children, (aged about 9 and 10) who was also finding it difficult to make the adjustment to feeding her children during the holidays; she was having to rob Peter (her fuel obligations) to pay Paul (her grocery shopping).
But I *was* surprised that her Grocery shopping (her definition) rose from £40-£50 per school-week to £60-£70 per holiday week.”
Why were you surprised? It’s highly likely that her children receive free (to her anyway) breakfast and lunch. To replace those for two children could easily cost getting on for twenty quid if proper budgeting is not exercised. Seems she might have to dip into the £33 a week she gets in Child Allowance.
“Nailit...very right. You don't think about those things when you have them.”
And there beginneth the first lesson. People embark on having children in the most unsuitable circumstances and once they do they find it extremely difficult to improve their lot. A little thought is needed before conceiving children.
“But I remember that food costs was a minor issue. The main cost was paying for activities (tennis/football coaching, zoos)- but we knew all that when we chose to have children”
It seems some of us don’t (see above). But in any case, those with limited funds should not be paying for their children to receive sports coaching when (allegedly) they are having difficulty finding the money to feed them.
“I saw a brief interview/article with a single mum of 2 children, (aged about 9 and 10) who was also finding it difficult to make the adjustment to feeding her children during the holidays; she was having to rob Peter (her fuel obligations) to pay Paul (her grocery shopping).
But I *was* surprised that her Grocery shopping (her definition) rose from £40-£50 per school-week to £60-£70 per holiday week.”
Why were you surprised? It’s highly likely that her children receive free (to her anyway) breakfast and lunch. To replace those for two children could easily cost getting on for twenty quid if proper budgeting is not exercised. Seems she might have to dip into the £33 a week she gets in Child Allowance.
I agree with that pretty much NJ but I think you misunderstood when you quoted me when i'd said “But I remember that food costs was a minor issue. The main cost was paying for activities (tennis/football coaching, zoos)- but we knew all that when we chose to have children”
You responded. "It seems some of us don’t (see above). But in any case, those with limited funds should not be paying for their children to receive sports coaching when (allegedly) they are having difficulty finding the money to feed them"
I wasn't suggesting anyone was paying for sports coaching while alledgely having difficulties aying to feed their children. I was simply talking aboutmy experience with my children- the extra food costs were not an issue at all- cheaper than school meals- but I found it was fairly expensive finding activities they could do whilst we juggled work and holidays. We could afford it though but i was just saying the cost far outweighed the extra lunch costs
You responded. "It seems some of us don’t (see above). But in any case, those with limited funds should not be paying for their children to receive sports coaching when (allegedly) they are having difficulty finding the money to feed them"
I wasn't suggesting anyone was paying for sports coaching while alledgely having difficulties aying to feed their children. I was simply talking aboutmy experience with my children- the extra food costs were not an issue at all- cheaper than school meals- but I found it was fairly expensive finding activities they could do whilst we juggled work and holidays. We could afford it though but i was just saying the cost far outweighed the extra lunch costs
Yes they are going hungry because their parents don’t feed them.
There are many and varied reasons but it is the parents responsibility to feed their children. When they don’t it isn’t the fault of the government but of the parent.
However when a child in need has been identified whichever organisation that deals with that sort of thing should step in and support the parents to feed their children.
There are many and varied reasons but it is the parents responsibility to feed their children. When they don’t it isn’t the fault of the government but of the parent.
However when a child in need has been identified whichever organisation that deals with that sort of thing should step in and support the parents to feed their children.
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