10 million in severe poverty

[Kiwififer]

Free school meals to all primary kids in all of Scotland now.

I would extend it to High Schools.

[jansman]

My wife is in teaching and sees poverty everyday. Free ( universal) school meals would be a very good start.

[Kiwififer]

My wife is in teaching and sees poverty everyday. Free ( universal) school meals would be a very good start.

The thing is, they technically are not free. We pay ours out of the block grant we get back from Westminster plus the additional top rate of income tax we pay up here.

You can’t learn on an empty stomach.

[WomanOfTheWoods]

My wife is in teaching and sees poverty everyday. Free ( universal) school meals would be a very good start.

The thing is, they technically are not free. We pay ours out of the block grant we get back from Westminster plus the additional top rate of income tax we pay up here.

You can’t learn on an empty stomach.

Well, I suppose technically nothing is free. It all has to be paid somehow. But I am quite happy to pay the additional taxes up here.
I personally don't see any poverty anywhere . But I know it exists and it's very real and it's often hidden. When teachers at the coal face say they see it every day, it's a stark reminder,

I don't know what's available to everyone in England, but in Scotland free prescriptions, free eye tests, free education, enhanced care in the home for elderly.

[Kiwififer]

Indeed. We adjusted the top rate of income tax to help pay for services and most agreed, the ones who didn’t tended to have a political axe to grind.

Poverty tends to be hidden in rural places, in cities, less so as you can’t really hide it. I live in a ‘leafy suburb’ of Edinburgh, loads of BMW and Audi cars so it seems very insulated from life, I work however in an area of inter generational poverty so it’s part of my work life down here. Most of my neighbours would be unaware of what it is like, they’ve never picked the mould off of bread before putting it into the toaster.

[jansman]

My wife is in teaching and sees poverty everyday. Free ( universal) school meals would be a very good start.

The thing is, they technically are not free. We pay ours out of the block grant we get back from Westminster plus the additional top rate of income tax we pay up here.

You can’t learn on an empty stomach.

No,nothing is free. Every economy on the planet is indebted to the hilt, and there’s no money tree; all things that really deserve financial help,are truly deserving,and there are many. That is the reality,sadly.

Poverty is everywhere. You may not see it,but it is there. The village we live in ( although the posh houses built all around have turned it into a small town this last few years) was described as “Chocolate Box” by the OFSTED inspectors at the school. What they didn’t see was the kids whose house had no washing machine - the school has one to support them now- kids constantly hungry. I could go on…

A former employer of mine told me of the severe poverty in Leicester in the 1930’s. Unfortunately,history is repeating itself.

[PaulGray]

3/4 of housing immediately around us are either elderly or needing care.
We keep an eye on two neighbors for two reasons.
Rogue traders (those slime driving around in teams and targeting the area on a regular basis).
And they having to choose to heat or eat.

Social services? Useless.
The local church does help quite a few BUT they have to get there for a free meal, twice a week.

Doctors? ROTFL.
Is there any still working in Lincolnshire??

It's worrying (if you give a damn). It's a case of making too much for the two of us and plating a meal for one of them for a meal every second day.

We are not alone there but it is a low employment area so doing the right thing comes at a cost.

As for our local politicians and the MP helping them?
Please don't make me laugh as it hurts.

I am dreading what will happen this winter.
Hopefully some will end up in hospital and be cared for.
Otherwise?

[WomanOfTheWoods]

Financial expert Martin Lewis interviewed on newsnight recently warned that 10 million people are facing moving to severe levels of poverty this winter and we are heading towards a genuine catastrophic crisis , he told newsnight of civil unrest and civil disobedience also people will refuse to pay their bills and warned that government action is to little to late.

Sobering words indeed.

Do you think you could be one of the 10 million would you consider not paying you're bills , how would companys and government react to can't pay won't pay it killed the poll tax .

Discuss ☺

I know the discussion has moved on and evolved organically from the original post. So Poverty! Poverty takes many forms. And there are many solutions!
What thoughts has everyone on what can be done about it? Ideas, possible initiatives?
I believe that action can be achieved at a community / boots on the ground level.
It would be really valuable to hear any ideas.

[Vitamin c]

Most places have a community centre could you be allowed in Monday to Friday say from 5pm to 1030pm to sit in a heated room and watch TV with your neighbours only cost is heating one room and TV.

[WomanOfTheWoods]

Most places have a community centre could you be allowed in Monday to Friday say from 5pm to 1030pm to sit in a heated room and watch TV with your neighbours only cost is heating one room and TV.

That's a good idea for old folk. I think the community centres in most towns have a lot of activities on. So they are a very good place for folk to go for a heat and a cup of tea.

I was in Ireland recent and the hotel I was staying in had an evening event in their car park. It was a Grow It Yourself event and swap. People were swapping plants and surplus produce. And they had a stall with fresh produce and a big sign for people in the village to help themselves. It's sometimes an accumulation of all the small things that make the difference