I was in a supermarket a couple of years ago and a small boy asked his mum for a packet of polos.
She said no they couldn't afford it, when I noticed a bottle of vodka in her trolly and she then trotted off to the 'fag counter'
Makes you wonder dunnit !
BUT - there are loads of families can't afford the basics - girls who have to take 3 or 4 days off school each month as a result - so don't tar everyone with the same brush.
BUT - there are loads of families can't afford the basics - girls who have to take 3 or 4 days off school each month as a result - so don't tar everyone with the same brush.
Plus there's vat on hygiene products
I have always thought the VAT on feminine hygiene products nothing short of scandalous. We have/had no choice but to buy them, and they are far from a luxury.
Sadly, there are all too many that really struggle these days, and not all of them are frivolous.
Last edited by GillD46 on 27 Jun 2018, 11:15, edited 1 time in total.
Well done that teacher …. better that than for the young person to miss her schooling
I would like to think that Boots or the manufacturers help out with free / very cheap supplies of same.
We also have uncomplimentary thoughts regarding scroungers but we also feel it appropriate to pop in at least a fiver's worth of items into the food bank collection box at Sainsbugs whenever we go shopping there.
There are many, many genuine cases but equally, as many if not more folk who just can't handle their finances.
In the past. I've worked with guys who got paid on Friday and were skint by Monday, and borrowong the money for a pint or two.
Not going to the pub never even entered their heads.
So, their family lived in abject poverty, not because of bad wages but because of bad management.
Anyone in genuine need needs genuine help, but they also have an obligation to help themselves when they can.
As for the Vat on feminine hygiene products, well, you can blame our friends in the EU for that one. (but that's another story)
When you say can't afford the basics Meg, the actual basics to stay clean are extremely cheap, and cost virtually nothing.
A bar of soap. A box of washing suds. A bottle of shampoo. A tube of toothpaste.
Did you know that a couple who smoke a packet a day each (not that unusual) will spend over £4,300 a year.
I'm not moralising, but many really do need to look at their own life style as well.
Last edited by barney on 27 Jun 2018, 14:41, edited 1 time in total.
There are many, many genuine cases but equally, as many if not more folk who just can't handle their finances.
In the past. I've worked with guys who got paid on Friday and were skint by Monday, and borrowong the money for a pint or two.
Not going to the pub never even entered their heads.
So, their family lived in abject poverty, not because of bad wages but because of bad management.
Anyone in genuine need needs genuine help, but they also have an obligation to help themselves when they can.
As for the Vat on feminine hygiene products, well, you can blame our friends in the EU for that one. (but that's another story)
When you say can't afford the basics Meg, the actual basics to stay clean are extremely cheap, and cost virtually nothing.
A bar of soap. A box of washing suds. A bottle of shampoo. A tube of toothpaste.
Did you know that a couple who smoke a packet a day each (not that unusual) will spend over £4,300 a year.
I'm not moralising, but many really do need to look at their own life style as well.
sorry, by basics I meant women's sanitary stuff.
I accept all you say about life-style, but sometimes this means that the genuine cases don't get all the help/sympathy they need. I was at a meeting the other day where someone was talking about their church having a clothes bank and one family one Sunday turned up having walked several miles - and all the clothes the children had was what they stood up in - their school uniform. The whole family sobbed when given a set of clothes
there are now UK charities who are helping by supplying products. I researched it for the Mothers' Union a few weeks ago - which I why I feel strongly about it.
BUT - there are loads of families can't afford the basics - girls who have to take 3 or 4 days off school each month as a result - so don't tar everyone with the same brush.
Plus there's vat on hygiene products
If they still can't manage with all of the following available then there is something wrong somewhere.
There are many, many genuine cases but equally, as many if not more folk who just can't handle their finances.
In the past. I've worked with guys who got paid on Friday and were skint by Monday, and borrowong the money for a pint or two.
Not going to the pub never even entered their heads.
So, their family lived in abject poverty, not because of bad wages but because of bad management.
Anyone in genuine need needs genuine help, but they also have an obligation to help themselves when they can.
As for the Vat on feminine hygiene products, well, you can blame our friends in the EU for that one. (but that's another story)
When you say can't afford the basics Meg, the actual basics to stay clean are extremely cheap, and cost virtually nothing.
A bar of soap. A box of washing suds. A bottle of shampoo. A tube of toothpaste.
Did you know that a couple who smoke a packet a day each (not that unusual) will spend over £4,300 a year.
I'm not moralising, but many really do need to look at their own life style as well.
The only surprising thing is that this made the news....it was happening almost 20 years ago in our school.
I feel it would be more newsworthy to highlight the pressure put on family finances by the US import known as The Prom. It’s not just the cost of the dress/ suit but also the associated hair do etc.
I know one of our neighbouring schools had a supply of prom dresses for loan which had been donated by former pupils but peer pressure being what it is the level of secrecy involved in running the enterprise was quite something.
As far as basic sanitary products are concerned Meg is absolutely right.....If a man had blood pouring out of his willy once a month then sanitary products would be free on prescription.
As far as the teacher supplying hygiene products.....
One would have hopped a (your child stinks) letter to the child's parent/s will have been the first course of action.
If the teacher feels there is a hygiene issue and all attempts to rectify the situation have failed then l don't see that the teacher has much option other than to supply a couple of wet wipes.....One would hope very discretely as not to stigmatise the child.
As far as basic sanitary products are concerned Meg is absolutely right.....If a man had blood pouring out of his willy once a month then sanitary products would be free on prescription.
As far as the teacher supplying hygiene products.....
One would have hopped a (your child stinks) letter to the child's parent/s will have been the first course of action.
If the teacher feels there is a hygiene issue and all attempts to rectify the situation have failed then l don't see that the teacher has much option other than to supply a couple of wet wipes.....One would hope very discretely as not to stigmatise the child.
Really, good luck with that one.
There seems to be one rule for one and one rule for another about long term medical conditions and associated prescriptions. I know from experience.
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