BBC 6 Minute English June 25, 2015 - Food Bank | eJOY English
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Rob: Hello, I'm Rob. Welcome to 6 Minute English.
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With me today is Finn. Hello, Finn.
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Finn: Hi Rob!
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Rob: In this programme we're going to be talking about food banks in the UK.
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Finn: Yes, food banks. But what exactly are they?
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Rob: Well, you can find them all over the country nowadays.
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They're part of a system where people who are struggling financially are given free
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food to cook or eat which other people have donated or given for free.
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Finn: We mean that people in modern-day Britain are so hard-up
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that means they've got so little money
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that they can't afford to buy their own food?
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It does seem extraordinary, doesn't it?
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Rob: Yeah, it does.
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Well, today's question is about the people who use the food banks.
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So Finn, do you know how many British people are estimated to have used them?
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Is it ... a) 15,000?
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b) 240,000? or c) 500,000?
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Finn: I'll say 240,000, Rob.
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Rob: Well, we'll see if you're right at the end of the programme.
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Let's talk now about why food banks have opened up in the UK.
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Finn: Yes, well, I suppose one place to start is the financial crisis of 2008
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which made a lot of people redundant
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that means they were asked to leave their jobs by their companies
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so they became unemployed.
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Rob: Then there were the cuts to the welfare system in 2013 which added to the problem.
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Finn: Rising food prices themselves are another reason.
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And heating bills in the winter can be expensive.
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People fall into debt. You know, lots of things.
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Rob: And remember that it's not just unemployment, Finn,
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but underemployment, too.
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There are some people on what is called zero-hours contracts
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and doing part-time work
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and they don't earn enough money to buy some of the essential things in life.
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Finn: So there really are a lot of different factors, aren't there.
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Rob: Well, let's listen to Steph Hagen as she explains how her food bank in Nottingham works.
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She uses an expression that means 'unlimited access'.
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Steph Hagen: People do not go to a food bank because it's an open door, it's an open shop.
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It's a case of they go to it because they need to.
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And also with our food bank
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we are an independent one, and we have limited stocks
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so everybody who comes through our door has no income whatsoever.
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Finn: She said "open door". This means unlimited access.
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Rob: And she said she had "limited stocks".
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This means 'a shortage of goods'
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there's not enough food for everybody.
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Finn: But Rob, surely this food bank system is open to abuse as well?
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What's to stop anyone just turning up and asking for food?
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Rob: Well, there are checks in place and there's a system of referrals.
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If a doctor or a social worker thinks someone needs to use a food bank
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even for a short time ─ they can give them vouchers.
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Then they take the vouchers along to the food bank
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and they get handouts for three days.
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Finn: Right. So, I see. I've heard that everything in food banks is donated
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that means it's given for free.
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And churches and individual donors are the people who provide most of it.
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Rob: Well, apparently, these food banks are a great
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meeting place for people who are lonely and depressed.
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The food bank volunteers then talk to the people who use them.
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Finn: Some of these food banks also run courses
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about how to cook well on a low budget.
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So it's really not just handouts that these people get.
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It's information as well.
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Rob: But because these people are poor
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they often can't afford to use gas or electricity for cooking.
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So the food banks make sure they also provide food which can be eaten cold.
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Finn: That's right. And I think it would be wrong
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to assume that the users are just scroungers
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now that means people who want something for nothing
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because there's a loss of dignity
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and even shame attached to using these services and people would of course prefer not to have to do it.
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So, what food do they give out, Rob?
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Rob: Well, let's listen to Steph again and see what she says.
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She uses an expression to describe canned food that only needs to be heated.
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Steph Hagen: Basically, we've got porridge.
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We do occasionally get fresh produce but it's very rare, especially in the winter months.
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It's a case of, it's like, tinned fruit, tinned ready meals.
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What also goes into the mix,
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people don't realise we have to give out 'no-cooking' food parcels
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because people can't afford the gas and electric...
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Finn: She said "tinned ready meals".
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This is canned food that only needs to be heated.
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Rob: And she said "goes into the mix".
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This means it's 'part of the overall package'.
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She also made the point about the importance of giving out 'no-cooking' food parcels
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because some people don't have the electricity or the gas to cook the food.
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OK, Finn. So, would you like the answer to the quiz question now?
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Finn: Yes, please, yes.
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You asked me how many British people are estimated to have used food banks.
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Was it: 15,000, 240,000 or 500,000?
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And I guessed 240,000.
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Rob: Well, sorry, Finn. I'm afraid the answer is actually 500,000.
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And some experts say that there are 13 million people living below the
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poverty line in the UK right now.
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Finn: It really does show how food banks
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even in a country like ours ─ are really needed.
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It does make you think, doesn't it?
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Rob: It does. Well, we're almost out of time now.
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So, let's remind ourselves of some of the words we've said today, Finn.
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Finn: OK.
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make people redundant
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zero-hours contracts
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open door
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referrals
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handouts
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limited stocks
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scroungers
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dignity
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ready meals
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goes into the mix
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Rob: Thank you. Well, that's it for today.
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Please visit bbclearningenglish.com to find more 6 Minute English programmes.
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Until next time. Goodbye!
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Finn: Bye!
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BBC 6 Minute English June 25, 2015 - Food Bank

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4
High Intermediate
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Travel & Events
Rob: Hello, I'm Rob. Welcome to 6 Minute English.With me today is Finn. Hello, Finn.Finn: Hi Rob!
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