Cut a part
1
- Start Start loop (Shift + 1)0:0:0 End End loop (Shift + 2)0:0:0
AB
Your browser doesn't support full screen mode.
0%
cancel
Translation
Definition
Slang
Video
Transcript
Auto Scroll
AI Transcript
SplitOverflowSaved phrases
Rob: Hello, I'm Rob. Welcome to 6 Minute English.![loading](/go/public/images/loadingRec.svg)
With me today is Finn. Hello, Finn.![loading](/go/public/images/loadingRec.svg)
Finn: Hi Rob!![loading](/go/public/images/loadingRec.svg)
Rob: In this programme we're going to be talking about food banks in the UK.![loading](/go/public/images/loadingRec.svg)
Finn: Yes, food banks. But what exactly are they?![loading](/go/public/images/loadingRec.svg)
Rob: Well, you can find them all over the country nowadays.![loading](/go/public/images/loadingRec.svg)
They're part of a system where people who are struggling financially are given free![loading](/go/public/images/loadingRec.svg)
food to cook or eat which other people have donated or given for free.![loading](/go/public/images/loadingRec.svg)
Finn: We mean that people in modern-day Britain are so hard-up![loading](/go/public/images/loadingRec.svg)
that means they've got so little money![loading](/go/public/images/loadingRec.svg)
that they can't afford to buy their own food?![loading](/go/public/images/loadingRec.svg)
It does seem extraordinary, doesn't it?![loading](/go/public/images/loadingRec.svg)
Rob: Yeah, it does.![loading](/go/public/images/loadingRec.svg)
Well, today's question is about the people who use the food banks.![loading](/go/public/images/loadingRec.svg)
So Finn, do you know how many British people are estimated to have used them?![loading](/go/public/images/loadingRec.svg)
Is it ... a) 15,000?![loading](/go/public/images/loadingRec.svg)
b) 240,000? or c) 500,000?![loading](/go/public/images/loadingRec.svg)
Finn: I'll say 240,000, Rob.![loading](/go/public/images/loadingRec.svg)
Rob: Well, we'll see if you're right at the end of the programme.![loading](/go/public/images/loadingRec.svg)
Let's talk now about why food banks have opened up in the UK.![loading](/go/public/images/loadingRec.svg)
Finn: Yes, well, I suppose one place to start is the financial crisis of 2008![loading](/go/public/images/loadingRec.svg)
which made a lot of people redundant![loading](/go/public/images/loadingRec.svg)
that means they were asked to leave their jobs by their companies![loading](/go/public/images/loadingRec.svg)
so they became unemployed.![loading](/go/public/images/loadingRec.svg)
Rob: Then there were the cuts to the welfare system in 2013 which added to the problem.![loading](/go/public/images/loadingRec.svg)
Finn: Rising food prices themselves are another reason.![loading](/go/public/images/loadingRec.svg)
And heating bills in the winter can be expensive.![loading](/go/public/images/loadingRec.svg)
People fall into debt. You know, lots of things.![loading](/go/public/images/loadingRec.svg)
Rob: And remember that it's not just unemployment, Finn,![loading](/go/public/images/loadingRec.svg)
but underemployment, too.![loading](/go/public/images/loadingRec.svg)
There are some people on what is called zero-hours contracts![loading](/go/public/images/loadingRec.svg)
and doing part-time work![loading](/go/public/images/loadingRec.svg)
and they don't earn enough money to buy some of the essential things in life.![loading](/go/public/images/loadingRec.svg)
Finn: So there really are a lot of different factors, aren't there.![loading](/go/public/images/loadingRec.svg)
Rob: Well, let's listen to Steph Hagen as she explains how her food bank in Nottingham works.![loading](/go/public/images/loadingRec.svg)
She uses an expression that means 'unlimited access'.![loading](/go/public/images/loadingRec.svg)
Steph Hagen: People do not go to a food bank because it's an open door, it's an open shop.![loading](/go/public/images/loadingRec.svg)
It's a case of they go to it because they need to.![loading](/go/public/images/loadingRec.svg)
And also with our food bank![loading](/go/public/images/loadingRec.svg)
we are an independent one, and we have limited stocks![loading](/go/public/images/loadingRec.svg)
so everybody who comes through our door has no income whatsoever.![loading](/go/public/images/loadingRec.svg)
Finn: She said "open door". This means unlimited access.![loading](/go/public/images/loadingRec.svg)
Rob: And she said she had "limited stocks".![loading](/go/public/images/loadingRec.svg)
This means 'a shortage of goods'![loading](/go/public/images/loadingRec.svg)
there's not enough food for everybody.![loading](/go/public/images/loadingRec.svg)
Finn: But Rob, surely this food bank system is open to abuse as well?![loading](/go/public/images/loadingRec.svg)
What's to stop anyone just turning up and asking for food?![loading](/go/public/images/loadingRec.svg)
Rob: Well, there are checks in place and there's a system of referrals.![loading](/go/public/images/loadingRec.svg)
If a doctor or a social worker thinks someone needs to use a food bank![loading](/go/public/images/loadingRec.svg)
even for a short time ─ they can give them vouchers.![loading](/go/public/images/loadingRec.svg)
Then they take the vouchers along to the food bank![loading](/go/public/images/loadingRec.svg)
and they get handouts for three days.![loading](/go/public/images/loadingRec.svg)
Finn: Right. So, I see. I've heard that everything in food banks is donated![loading](/go/public/images/loadingRec.svg)
that means it's given for free.![loading](/go/public/images/loadingRec.svg)
And churches and individual donors are the people who provide most of it.![loading](/go/public/images/loadingRec.svg)
Rob: Well, apparently, these food banks are a great![loading](/go/public/images/loadingRec.svg)
meeting place for people who are lonely and depressed.![loading](/go/public/images/loadingRec.svg)
The food bank volunteers then talk to the people who use them.![loading](/go/public/images/loadingRec.svg)
Finn: Some of these food banks also run courses![loading](/go/public/images/loadingRec.svg)
about how to cook well on a low budget.![loading](/go/public/images/loadingRec.svg)
So it's really not just handouts that these people get.![loading](/go/public/images/loadingRec.svg)
It's information as well.![loading](/go/public/images/loadingRec.svg)
Rob: But because these people are poor![loading](/go/public/images/loadingRec.svg)
they often can't afford to use gas or electricity for cooking.![loading](/go/public/images/loadingRec.svg)
So the food banks make sure they also provide food which can be eaten cold.![loading](/go/public/images/loadingRec.svg)
Finn: That's right. And I think it would be wrong![loading](/go/public/images/loadingRec.svg)
to assume that the users are just scroungers![loading](/go/public/images/loadingRec.svg)
now that means people who want something for nothing![loading](/go/public/images/loadingRec.svg)
because there's a loss of dignity![loading](/go/public/images/loadingRec.svg)
and even shame attached to using these services and people would of course prefer not to have to do it.![loading](/go/public/images/loadingRec.svg)
So, what food do they give out, Rob?![loading](/go/public/images/loadingRec.svg)
Rob: Well, let's listen to Steph again and see what she says.![loading](/go/public/images/loadingRec.svg)
She uses an expression to describe canned food that only needs to be heated.![loading](/go/public/images/loadingRec.svg)
Steph Hagen: Basically, we've got porridge.![loading](/go/public/images/loadingRec.svg)
We do occasionally get fresh produce but it's very rare, especially in the winter months.![loading](/go/public/images/loadingRec.svg)
It's a case of, it's like, tinned fruit, tinned ready meals.![loading](/go/public/images/loadingRec.svg)
What also goes into the mix,![loading](/go/public/images/loadingRec.svg)
people don't realise we have to give out 'no-cooking' food parcels![loading](/go/public/images/loadingRec.svg)
because people can't afford the gas and electric...![loading](/go/public/images/loadingRec.svg)
Finn: She said "tinned ready meals".![loading](/go/public/images/loadingRec.svg)
This is canned food that only needs to be heated.![loading](/go/public/images/loadingRec.svg)
Rob: And she said "goes into the mix".![loading](/go/public/images/loadingRec.svg)
This means it's 'part of the overall package'.![loading](/go/public/images/loadingRec.svg)
She also made the point about the importance of giving out 'no-cooking' food parcels![loading](/go/public/images/loadingRec.svg)
because some people don't have the electricity or the gas to cook the food.![loading](/go/public/images/loadingRec.svg)
OK, Finn. So, would you like the answer to the quiz question now?![loading](/go/public/images/loadingRec.svg)
Finn: Yes, please, yes.![loading](/go/public/images/loadingRec.svg)
You asked me how many British people are estimated to have used food banks.![loading](/go/public/images/loadingRec.svg)
Was it: 15,000, 240,000 or 500,000?![loading](/go/public/images/loadingRec.svg)
And I guessed 240,000.![loading](/go/public/images/loadingRec.svg)
Rob: Well, sorry, Finn. I'm afraid the answer is actually 500,000.![loading](/go/public/images/loadingRec.svg)
And some experts say that there are 13 million people living below the![loading](/go/public/images/loadingRec.svg)
poverty line in the UK right now.![loading](/go/public/images/loadingRec.svg)
Finn: It really does show how food banks![loading](/go/public/images/loadingRec.svg)
even in a country like ours ─ are really needed.![loading](/go/public/images/loadingRec.svg)
It does make you think, doesn't it?![loading](/go/public/images/loadingRec.svg)
Rob: It does. Well, we're almost out of time now.![loading](/go/public/images/loadingRec.svg)
So, let's remind ourselves of some of the words we've said today, Finn.![loading](/go/public/images/loadingRec.svg)
Finn: OK.![loading](/go/public/images/loadingRec.svg)
make people redundant![loading](/go/public/images/loadingRec.svg)
zero-hours contracts![loading](/go/public/images/loadingRec.svg)
open door![loading](/go/public/images/loadingRec.svg)
referrals![loading](/go/public/images/loadingRec.svg)
handouts![loading](/go/public/images/loadingRec.svg)
limited stocks![loading](/go/public/images/loadingRec.svg)
scroungers![loading](/go/public/images/loadingRec.svg)
dignity![loading](/go/public/images/loadingRec.svg)
ready meals![loading](/go/public/images/loadingRec.svg)
goes into the mix![loading](/go/public/images/loadingRec.svg)
Rob: Thank you. Well, that's it for today.![loading](/go/public/images/loadingRec.svg)
Please visit bbclearningenglish.com to find more 6 Minute English programmes.![loading](/go/public/images/loadingRec.svg)
Until next time. Goodbye!![loading](/go/public/images/loadingRec.svg)
Finn: Bye!![loading](/go/public/images/loadingRec.svg)
Click here to download video transcript
Click here to copy video transcript
BBC 6 Minute English June 25, 2015 - Food Bank
Rob: Hello, I'm Rob. Welcome to 6 Minute English.With me today is Finn. Hello, Finn.Finn: Hi Rob!
Vocabulary in this video
See detail
8 words
35 words
10 words
4 words
39 words
6 words
5 words
Added to