Demand for handouts doubles in Bicester (From The Oxford Times)
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Demand for handouts doubles in Bicester
5:20pm Friday 20th January 2012 in News By Sam McGregor
icester Foodbank manager Janet Ray, right, with some of the volunteers, from left, Sarb Kailay, Yvonne Mack and Betty Jackman
RECORD numbers of families are seeking help from the Bicester Foodbank.
In the past three years the number of people visiting the organisation, based at the Sheep Street Methodist Church, has almost doubled.
Founder Janet Ray said: “It’s an awful situation, but I’m glad we are there to help these people, otherwise I don’t know where they would go.”
In the financial year 2009/10, 626 people were fed by the charity.
But so far in 2011/12, 1,148 people have had help, and that number is only set to rise.
Mrs Ray, 73, said: “We have seen a lot more people coming to the foodbank, particularly just before Christmas.
“One day we had 15 families in, the most we have had.
“Before, it was usually three or four a day.”
She said among the reasons people turned to the foodbank was benefit delays, sudden unemployment and people taking “big cuts” in their salary to keep their job.
Mrs Ray said: “In some cases people are very desperate. One woman told me she had sold her wedding ring to buy food for her daughter.
“It’s an awful situation, but I’m glad we are there to help these people, otherwise I don’t know where they would go.”
The charity, set up in 2006, celebrated its fifth birthday in December and has never been more needed.
The town’s eight churches collect weekly contributions from their congregations, and residents donate items.
The foodbank is open Tuesdays and Thursdays, from 1-3pm, and people can be referred by a church, doctor, social services or Citizens Advice Bureau.
bicester@oxfordmail.co.uk * Call the foodbank on 01869 357181, or donate food at Headmasters hair salon, Market Square, or at the Methodist church.
Comments(15)
MrsPloppy
says...
9:24pm Fri 20 Jan 12
As for Godforbid, what a strange view of people you have son.
Darkforbid
says...
11:26pm Fri 20 Jan 12
MrsPloppy
says...
12:23am Sat 21 Jan 12
Darkforbid wrote:Did I miss a post of yours out? What has this got to do with claiming people will turn up at food banks when they don't need the food?
Hmmm yep, my view that poverty has been turn into a business, or the view that charities should be about the aid, not employment
Strange, very strange indeed.
Darkforbid
says...
1:35am Sat 21 Jan 12
Or the mental health ones who use food banks for something to do...
apparently you need to get a referral now... Not hard just ask at the church, has anyone ever been refused a referral? I never heard of a no...
Mind you there are some people in genuine need, its a real shame the greedy don't leave them more
Does really help, its not like they give you food until your situation improves just a short term fix, I think this one has a 3 referrals a year rule...
Lord Palmerstone
says...
7:05am Sat 21 Jan 12
MrsPloppy wrote:You'll like this Ploppy/Scaramuccia sir. Maybe if the 370,000 migrants who came to our country to sign on for handouts all went home there'd be a bit more to go round.
We're all in it together but I'm struggling to picture Osborne and the bankers having to visit a food bank.
As for Godforbid, what a strange view of people you have son.
Darkforbid
says...
7:19am Sat 21 Jan 12
MrsPloppy
says...
9:50am Sat 21 Jan 12
Darkforbid wrote:Excuse me for asking but do you hang around food banks for a hobby?
Oh but its true, you should see some of the 20st plus (that haven't eaten for days) people who use food banks...
Or the mental health ones who use food banks for something to do...
apparently you need to get a referral now... Not hard just ask at the church, has anyone ever been refused a referral? I never heard of a no...
Mind you there are some people in genuine need, its a real shame the greedy don't leave them more
Does really help, its not like they give you food until your situation improves just a short term fix, I think this one has a 3 referrals a year rule...
MrsPloppy
says...
9:51am Sat 21 Jan 12
Darkforbid wrote:Refugees are migrants numb nuts, lol.
370,000 migrants?! I wonder what the total is including refugees...
MrsPloppy
says...
9:53am Sat 21 Jan 12
Lord Palmerstone wrote:I do like it my Lord, so much so I'd be interested to see your figures in more detail. You can do that, can't you?
MrsPloppy wrote:You'll like this Ploppy/Scaramuccia sir. Maybe if the 370,000 migrants who came to our country to sign on for handouts all went home there'd be a bit more to go round.
We're all in it together but I'm struggling to picture Osborne and the bankers having to visit a food bank.
As for Godforbid, what a strange view of people you have son.
Darkforbid
says...
10:30am Sat 21 Jan 12
Over 370000 migrants who
came to Britain last year to
work, study or visit are now claiming UK benefits...
You we're saying?
MrsPloppy
says...
11:15pm Sat 21 Jan 12
Darkforbid wrote:No, you were saying, except you omitted to reference your source therefore making your statement appear to be a stupid comment based on the self proclaimed Lord.
┄Refugees are migrants numb nuts, lol.┄
Over 370000 migrants who
came to Britain last year to
work, study or visit are now claiming UK benefits...
You we're saying?
Even though you are now using a quote without using quotation marks or referencing it I would suggest you do a little more research on it because it is one that has used basic information and applied it incorrectly.
I look forward to your evidence that will allow me to show you the error of your, swallow anything without question or knowledge, ways.
Have fun.
Darkforbid
says...
11:44pm Sat 21 Jan 12
Btw: they tend to site foodbanks in or next to centres I use.
Bbtw: no
MrsPloppy
says...
11:14pm Sun 22 Jan 12
Darkforbid wrote:Wel, well, I would have thought anyone with actual evidence to prove their point would wish to post it to silence their detractors. Strange you choose not to eh?
Well I would but no point with someone who clearly missed class on the day they explained how migrant workers differed from refugees...
Btw: they tend to site foodbanks in or next to centres I use.
Bbtw: no
I see you have now altered the text again to suit your point. The word was migrants my friend and no amount of adding other words or attributing incorrect categories to it change the fact that you are talking out of your ar5e.
I may have missed class but you sound like you didn't even attend school.
Darkforbid
says...
12:55pm Mon 23 Jan 12
anyone with actual evidence to prove
their point would wish to post it to
silence their detractors. Strange you
choose not to eh?--
didn't think I need to, as I was replying to somebody who had read the same thing on the BBC, it was you who chimed in...
---I see you have now altered the text
again to suit your point. The word
was migrants my friend and no
amount of adding other words or
attributing incorrect categories to it
change the fact that you are talking
out of your ar5e.---
well take that up with the news papers who printed it, based on released government figers, then again you posted it was wrong so why did you not add your evidence...
---I may have missed class but you
sound like you didn't even attend
school. ”---
true I left at 14...
Darkforbid says...
7:53pm Fri 20 Jan 12
And its the same anytime, as soon as people hear free and food... They'll turn up needy or not.