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Busting the Myths!
There are many myths surrounding food banks and often they prevent people from seeking the help they need. Here we’ve listed and busted some of the most common myths you might have heard.
“YOU CAN’T USE A FOODBANK IF YOU WORK”
Anybody can need emergency food; there is no one ‘type’ of person who goes to a food bank. We help people who work full-time, part-time, zero-hours contracts or multiple jobs. We help people who rely on welfare payments; we help individuals, couples, and families. Anyone who is in crisis can get a Foodbank Voucher and come to us.
“FOODBANKS ARE ONLY USED BY PEOPLE WHO DON’T KNOW HOW TO BUDGET”
Budgeting is a useful skill but ‘life shocks’ such as redundancy, illness, unexpected bills, or a relationship breaking down can all drastically reduce the amount of money available. If someone’s situation changes unexpectedly they can be left with less money than they need, no matter how cleverly they budget.
For those clients who come to us and haven’t been taught how to budget, our Advice Worker will help them to learn the basics and we partner with other charities like CAP (Christians Against Poverty) to offer money management courses.
“PEOPLE GO TO FOODBANKS TO GET FREE FOOD SO THEY CAN SPEND THEIR MONEY ON ALCOHOL, CIGARETTES, ILLEGAL DRUGS OR TATTOOS”
Going to a food bank is usually a last resort; we often see people who haven’t eaten for days because they didn’t want to admit they needed help. Frequently people walk past the foodbank several times before plucking up the courage to come in, and are often shocked that they’re in a situation where they need our help. Our volunteers regularly comfort people who are in tears of misery, frustration, or anger at their situation. Without foodbanks, these people would go hungry or have to resort to shoplifting or rummaging through bins in order to eat.
Yes, some people may spend their money on things that you feel are not necessary, but truthfully who gives us the right to choose what small enjoyment a person takes, when most things in their life are challenging and even depressing? Also, addiction is an illness; people do not choose to become addicted to smoking, drinking alcohol, or taking drugs. We help our clients to seek help for their problems, including addictions and then we help them to have good nourishing food and a place to feel accepted and seen.
“FOODBANK FOOD IS UNHEALTHY”
The Trussell Trust works with independent nutritionists to ensure that the three-days emergency food we provide is nutritionally balanced. A typical food parcel contains tinned fruit, tinned vegetables, UHT milk, and pasta as well as many other items. We discuss people’s dietary requirements with them and adapt food parcels to suit their individual needs.
We also always have a variety of fresh fruit and vegetables, bread and eggs available for our clients. If the client chooses to accept all the different types of food we offer, it is easy to make nutritionally varied meals.
“FOODBANKS ONLY PROVIDE FOOD”
Here at Bexhill & Battle Foodbanks we try to provide a whole variety of non-food items, such as nappies, baby wipes, baby food, sanitary products, all kinds of toiletries, household cleaning items, and dog food & cat food.
We recognise that as well as food people often need help to tackle the underlying reasons for their crisis. We provide the opportunity for people to meet with our designated Advice Worker to help them get all the financial support they are entitled to, as well as signpost them to other local services.
We can provide pre-loaded SIM cards with calls, texts and data, meal vouchers for local services, fuel vouchers, energy help referrals, and of course a cuppa, biscuit, and a listening ear.
“IF SOMEONE NEEDS A FOODBANK THEY SHOULDN’T HAVE A FLATSCREEN TV, A CAR, SKY TV, A COMPUTER, A MOBILE PHONE…”
The items that someone owns, or the contracts they entered into when they had sufficient money, have no bearing on whether they go into crisis. Anyone’s situation can change unexpectedly and frequently people find themselves unable to get out of contracts they’ve previously taken out for phones, computers or TV packages. In addition, mobile phones and computers can be essential for keeping in touch with agencies to help the person out of crisis, while cars can be needed to get to interviews or for children to attend school.
An important value for us is not judging others; we look at what is needed and do what we can to meet that need. We have learned over many years and through so many examples that you cannot tell what is going on for a client at first glance. Just last week we had a lady being evicted from her home of 20 years through no fault of her own, but then she was about to pick up a £35,000 car the next week, as she gets a car through mobility due to the high level of her disabilities. She herself said to me how ludicrous it was that she would have a plush car but be either homeless or in temporary accommodation in her sixties.
“PEOPLE BECOME DEPENDENT ON FOODBANKS”
Nobody should be dependent on emergency food parcels, which is why we work closely with our local referral agencies to ascertain the underlying causes of what is putting our clients in crisis.
Each month we work with our dedicated Advice Worker to see who has used our foodbank more than three times in the last six months. We will then speak to the client to offer an appointment with our Advice Worker so they can see if there is anything they can do to help them maximise their income and thus minimise their foodbank usage.
We do all we can to try to ensure that no one has to rely on a foodbank parcel. Sadly, currently, the amount of money that someone receives on basic universal credit is not enough to allow the person to live day-to-day without additional help. This is why the Trussell Trust is working in partnership with the Joseph Rowntree Foundation to ask the government to create an Essentials Guarantee, so that all people can live with the dignity of being able to afford their own food and basic living costs, without relying on charity.
“You have to queue up outside Bexhill Foodbank”
This is rubbish. No one needs to queue. If you drive past us and see a queue, it is because one has formed before we open as people choose to arrive early. When we ask clients why they have come early, the answers can range from I want first pick of the fresh stuff (we refill throughout the session, so there is enough for the whole time), to It’s the highlight of my week, which makes our hearts weep. Yes, we like to be there for local people, but we want there to be something better that they are looking forward to.
Each of our open sessions in Bexhill is two hours, if you are new come after the first half hour as this is when it is busiest. We want to be able to have a cuppa and a chat with you, so we appreciate it when clients stagger when they arrive.
We ensure we are well stocked and there will be as much food at the end of the session as there is at the start, you will not miss out.
“IF YOU HAVE CHILDREN THE FOODBANK WILL CONTACT SOCIAL SERVICES”
This is one of the most damaging myths about foodbanks. If you are a parent or carer and attend the foodbank we will not automatically contact social services; being in crisis and needing emergency food has nothing to do with how well you care for your children.
It takes courage to ask for help and by getting referred to the foodbank you are doing the best thing for your children, by ensuring they have enough food to eat.
“You have to listen to ‘God talk’ when you USE A TRUSSELL TRUST FOODBANK”
Whilst our Christian faith underpins the ethos of the help that we provide; we’re here to help people in need whatever their faith, beliefs or background. Our volunteers are primarily here to listen to and support those who visit and we are happy to share our faith or pray for a client if they wish for us to. There is never a requirement to listen to any ‘God talk’ or accept prayer.