“Rock bottom became the solid foundation on which I rebuilt my life.”

beanielou

teafor2 wrote: »

But it's not as though they're giving anything away themselves is it. It's food that's been donated by people who want to help others. I bet the majority of people don't even know TT have such strict rules in place.

Wannabe, I meant to ask, did your equipment that you need arrive? x

Yes, I just dont agree with it at all.
They also have paid staff which most independants do not.
Ours is run totally by volunteers.
We would not turn anyone with nothing & work with local referral agents ie schools, GP's, health visitors, housing officers to help in any way that we possibly can.

WannabeFree

It did Teafor2 All working and sorted again x

I think it's sad for those who are in a situation worse than mine who know they will only receive help 3 times and then there is nothing. It makes me feel lucky to have what I do. I think there should be help out there to teach people to cook etc if they need too. Someone at the food bank was discussing how they didn't know what to do with half their food parcel.

x

teafor2

WannabeFree wrote: »

It did Teafor2 All working and sorted again x

I think it's sad for those who are in a situation worse than mine who know they will only receive help 3 times and then there is nothing. It makes me feel lucky to have what I do. I think there should be help out there to teach people to cook etc if they need too. Someone at the food bank was discussing how they didn't know what to do with half their food parcel.

x

If you didn't have your hands full with other things I'd be nominating you to set something up. It's beyond me how you feed yourself and 3 children on the money you have at the moment. I bet you could teach people a thing or two about cooking and baking when they're on limited funds. x

WannabeFree

I love cooking and baking. I think it's cheaper as I don't follow recipes etc and just make it work with what we have. I try to have no waste. I make soup from veg peelings etc so even that doesn't get thrown Quite tight really I guess

teafor2

Tight? Absolutely not. You're using what you have to it's fullest potential which can only be good from a financial and health point of view. I think Mother Nature would be a lot happier if there were more people like you living in her home. x

beanielou

I think you are ace.
We run cookery courses for our clients.

Cherryfudge

Wannabe, sorry if this has already been answered somewhere and I've lost track, but do you manage your debts yourself, or do you use one of the free services such as CAP (Christians against poverty)? There are others but I'm too sleepy to remember. I was wondering, as I know these organisations have quite a bit of influence in terms of writing letters on your behalf and getting repayments down to a manageable rate. I wonder if they might also enable be able to lean on the powers that be to process your missing benefits a bit quicker.

I hope you get a good night's sleep tonight.

Toni'sfriend

We run cookery courses for our clients.

That is a great idea. Basic cookery is really simple. Once you know how to make soup, throw together a stew or casserole, roast a chicken or bake chicken pieces, you can make just about anything. My brother and I grew up eating my Granny's home made soup every day (sometimes twice a day!) and we were really healthy children. We were lucky I guess that Grandad grew all his own vegetables but it was all done for economic reasons We didn't have a lot of money.

I try to have no waste. I make soup from veg peelings etc so even that doesn't get thrown

Granny would definitely approved of that, W xxx

Eager_Elephant

Wannabe - do you get Housing Benefit to help with rent?

Also another shocker about Trussell Trust - if you set up a local food bank under their name you have to pay them a fee to use the name because apparently having the name brings with it benefits you wouldn't get any other time ......…..

In my job I assess for food parcels, we usually allow up to 3 a year as a general rule but if someone needs more help then they can have it but only if they are willing to work with us to overcome their financial difficulties. I had one lady who had 1 each week for 10 weeks but I was trying to sort her benefit claims out and knew she had no money.

Our local food bank is run entirely by volunteers and is very good.

WannabeFree

Morning (Just )

Thank you for all your replies

Yes EE I do get HB but obviously not towards the arrears payment and it's a bit less than the weekly rent as if I didn't have arrears I'd have 4 weeks rent free a year too. I think once the arrears are paid I pay around £8 a week top up rather than the £58 I'm paying now.

I don't know if we have any other foodbank, I am sure they are all TT. That's where they send you when you ask for help anyway.

Cherry I have been to CAB and the money advice service run by my housing association. When I first set out on being debt free. They couldn't help much as most of my debt was/is family & friends or court orders. To change the court order its a fee to go back to court to request it.

I think I've replied to the questions shout at me if not

x