There is no shame in accepting a free school meal if it genuinely makes a difference to a child in need. Maybe kids having to 'fight over food' isn't optimal. Put down the styrofoam 'stone tablet' for a second, and realise that you don't get to speak for the struggles or character of every single parent out there - some of whom you imagine to be primed to sell their kids £15 vouchers (that they aren't going to get anyway) to 'buy drugs'. If you're so judgemental of free school meals that you would demonise families and consequently children, for doing so, the shame lies a little closer to home I'm afraid. All shaming children having free schools meals does is encourage the marginalisation and bullying (real 'bullying' Tim) of vulnerable and disadvantaged children.

Why is it an issue now? There's a once in a lifetime pandemic going on and some people are seriously struggling with their finances and to put food on the table. Possibly that is reason enough.

As practical advice for struggling families, I would say don't be in any way ashamed to accept free school meals or to visit a food bank if you really need to. And if you're in a more fortunate position and have worked from home of late, make sure you claim your work from home tax relief and consider donating it to one of these organisations. Then giftaid it as way of making the government at least pay a contribution towards providing the basics. 'Treat others as you'd like to be treated if you were down on your luck', isn't a bad rule to live by. It's more helpful and realistic than comforting yourself with sweeping ideas that everyone going that route is an addict, a bad parent, 'shameful', or otherwise on the make.

Edited by BlueJay (25 Oct 2020 2.09am)

If you knew anything about dementia you would realise.

These people do it for their own interests don't think he is doing it because he is a nice guy.

You will find most footballers have some involvement with charities not all of them feel the need to show it off.

If he really cared he could of done this himself as a charity thing not trying to play the card that govt are bad and not helping the guy alone earns 200 thousand a week and why is he now suddenly pushing it it's because he has a team around him which control his image etc

When he first became a name he never mentioned any of this

Edited by grumpymort (25 Oct 2020 6.36pm)

(VPN) - [Link]
(Alt VPN) - [Link]

So a least educated, but most well-paid employee gets to talk about Government Policy. What a world we live in, ...innit,...

And don't get me started on that c-unit of a PM and the people that voted for it,...

I disengage, I turn the page.

<deep breath, count to ten>

1 I never said there was shame. But some people feel it.

2 Get off your high horse and stop making condescending remarks.

3 But Rashford, and yourself do?

4 I haven't judged anything

5 I demonised nobody, so suffer no shame. Trying to make someone feel guilty is extremely low.

6 It's been around since before Dickens came up with the name Twist, when poverty was really a thing in Britain, but now, because of a virus, it suddenly hits the headlines.

The highlight in blue I agree with completely.

7 This is where you fall down. Why would you think I need to "comfort myself", and where did I say "everyone"? The fact is that chidren are malnourished in the majority of cases because of bad parenting. Giving bad parents more money will not solve the problem. Which is pretty much the arsewipe gov's reply too.

Edited by Tim Gypsy Hill '64 (25 Oct 2020 7.21pm)

Systematically dragged down by the lawmakers

See above.

I also know enough that it is extremely rare for parents of young children to have dementia.....

Systematically dragged down by the lawmakers