MONEY MORAL DILEMMA: Should Ken ‘save’ Deidre’s kids from being taken into care?

duchy

I'd stick some money on her electric card if my gut feeling said she was genuine
If I was scammed-so what she wouldn't have spent it on anything non-essential and ultimately she answers for her own actions -according to my beliefs-and so do I

theturk

First of all the very last thing social workers do is take kids away. There is a S17 fund for such occasions. Secondly. If social services really are on the brink of taking the kids away then chances are there's more to it than the need to have electricity on when the social worker comes round.
As a professional (30 years) social worker I believe this mother is either:
making a living out of suckers
more of a risk to her kids, with electricity just the tip of the iceberg
very foolish.
:A

jockinafrock_2

Sorry, no. The kids interests come first and it sounds as they need a professional to assess the situation. A temporary £10 will help today, but what about tomorrow......?

Ephemera

Assuming Ken could afford it (!) and assuming Deidre had an electricity card or key then if he felt she was genuine then put the money on her card or key. If she's scamming him she's not likely to want that...:rotfl:

How on earth did she get in that state anyway? And if just the fact her electric's off is enough to get the kids taken away what the heck else has she done? :eek:

Oh well back to reality now :beer:

Jeannette1966

No Ken should not help Diedre. Social Services do not take children off parents for minor problems. If a child is removed from a family home that is not done lightly. Diedre could want the money for drink or drugs which would not help the children in the long run...
Sorry to be so cinical:rolleyes:

JayD

Sorry but I would not give her the money.
Firstly because I believe that there is a support network in place to ensure that she does have electricity. Somehwere in the back of my mind is a government proviso preventing people in need from being deprived of essential services - but I could be wrong. No doubt you will all tell me if I am. And secondly because I am always absolutely terrified when any stranger approaches me in the street - especially one asking for money.
I am very fearful that if I get my purse out to oblige them, they will snatch it (or worse, snatch my handbag while I am attempting to get my purse out) and make off.
Sadly, my faith in human nature is pretty weak these days.
That is not to say that I am uncharitable because I do keep the odd pound coin in my pocket to have ready to hand over to anyone selling the Big Issue, which I offer to them to buy a cuppa with. But you see, they wont have approached me, so the whole thing is on my terms and I am fully prepared etc rather than being wrong footed as I would be with an unsolicited encounter.

Daisy_Bell

MSE_Wendy wrote: »

Here's this week's hypothetical situation for you to cogitate on:

Should Ken ‘save’ Deidre’s kids from being taken into care?

Arriving at the local cash machine, Ken gets stopped by a panicky young woman who’s leaving the ATM in tears. She says her name’s Deidre, and asks Ken to help her out with £10; she’s run out of electricity, the bank won’t let her take any money out, and social services are about to come and inspect her house. She says they’ll take her kids away if they see it how it is; that’s all Ken knows. Should Ken give Deidre the cash?

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Definitely not! She'll be stopping somebody else for another handout at the next place! She's begging that's all.

ConveyanceConfused

Social Services wouldn't take children away simply because the power was out - it's a massive step taking children into care, not something that happens because the house is in the dark one night. This would be one of a series of visits. Either they'd take the whole scenario into account and let her keep the kids, or not - for better reasons than that the electricity was cut off.

redcoat94

Some of you are really a bunch of cynical,nasty,tight gits!

Maybe the poor girl cant get herself into 1000s of pounds of debt to help her kids........


Food for thought?

twirlie

I'd do it. I don't care if its a scam, I'd rather lose £10 to a con artist than risk not help someone who was genuinely in need just because of my own paranoia. I wouldn't give more than £10 though.

Then again I've always been that way. It makes me feel good about myself to help others. Back when McDonalds were doing the buy one big mac get one free thing I gave my 'extra' burger to the Big Issue man (who had a dog, I offered it to his dog so as not to offend, but he ate it!) and last year I handed my half full pack of cigarettes to a homeless man picking butts up off the street. I made an excuse about planning to quit, but I wasn't really. I just felt bad for him.

Each of those incidences have made me feel 100% better than the original item ever could ever have. The genuine look of appreciation makes it worthwhile for me, scam or not.