Tony has sent a small cheerful sign in times of bad news – the first daffodils in a small front garden in central Abingdon.
From Trinity Facebook “Prayers for the family & friends of the person stabbed in Abingdon today. Prayers for the those shaken by the attack and our town traders.“
I don’t like the sound of this, fuel poverty like all poverty is a terrible situation to find oneself in and there are proper routes for those who are unfortunate enough to find themselves in that situation to follow just as there are laid down means testing to qualify for such, I think it totally inappropriate that this group should be given a free hand as to decide who gets a payout or not, I suppose the big issue seller on the precinct would get it because she has the front to ask for it, yet some little old lady on income support probably would not? By the way I’m intrigued as to the legality of this since according to the charities commission web site both the national CAB and the Ab & Dist friends of CAB were de registered two years ago? So who’s regulating them?
Hi, my post above referred to a feature re the Ab & Dist friends of CAB asking for those who don’t need their winter fuel payment to donate it to their charity so they can decide who to distribute it to, however, it looks like the feature has been withdrawn? In which case perhaps backstreeter could withdrawn post?
Yes it must have been very shocking for all concerned. It was a tragedy for the mentally unstable person and the victim. I am sure that we all extend condolences to the family of the victim at this awful time.
There will be a prayer area at the community shop that people can use to respond to what happened, to pray for the family and friends of those involved, and for our town..
Sorry Captain, I started the blog on one point, posted it, then thought better of it in order to reflect what had happened during the day. Removed the part about winter fuel.
The winter fuel project is born of my frustration att at people like me being given winter fuel allowance when those that really needed it were not receiving enough and some nonevat all because they were not old enough to qualify for it. As you say, CaptainKaos, people like our big issue seller should be given it, I have seen letters in the paper from people saying similar things to me and wondering where best to target donating their share
Blue, hit the submit button too early.
I know of several people who do note that Winter fuel allowance and would like, like me, for it to go to someone in genuine fuel poverty .
There are ways of finding people that wouldn’t come forward themselves, for what ever reason, but are in need, The CAB advisors are fully trained in debt advice and there are other agencies, and individuals who do home visits who can pick up on people in genuine need .
I dare say it’s not a perfect system but it is a way of encouraging those that the government chooses to give this handout to, to donate this money to those that don’t receive it and need it.
Apologies for all the typos in last two posts
And I’ve just realised CsptainKaos wasnt saying the Big Issue seller should get a donation. It is very difficult to find the elderly people who are shivering in their houses snd too proud to ask for help, but we hope that by running this project we can reach them through various means.
…and in case anyone is concerned by Capt K’s comments about the CAB the local Citizens Advice Bureaux merged a few years ago so the Abingdon Bureau is part of a single Oxfordshire South and Vale CAB, charity no. 1150766 .
The national organisation is charity number 279057. and has just won “Charity of the Year 2015” award.
Ah but you didn’t refer to the new organisation Hester did you ? You Referred to a specific charity that had been de registered two years ago and certainly not the one that’s just won an award and that’s why I expressed my concern at your plea for people to donate their winter fuel allowance to an organisation that had been removed from the charity commissions list!
Angel. You did read me right, no way would I give anything to that particular big issue seller, don’t be fooled, hidden under all that cloth is the latest I pod and tablet with discreetly routed earphones and mic from which she communicates and listens to what/whoever all day long,
I used to support big issue when it was used by genuine homeless down and outs as a source of income for those on an impossible situation, not as it is now which appears to be a tax free revenue stream for “refugees” , it’s well documented that some of the big issue sellers on St Giles are brought in daily from London by new BMW’s,
Legimate sellers also display, often proudly, their big issue i d, but I’ve not seen any on the seller in the precinct?
,
My husband and I used to give very generously to the lady selling the big issue until we were told she has four chikdren and is not homeless and she is on a fiddle.I have no proof of this but she does have the latest I.Phone!!!!!
Steve – once again I will state the facts: the Citizens Advice Bureau in Abingdon used, like all local bureaux, to be a separate charity. A few years ago the Trustees merged with other local bureaux to form a new charity, thereby saving on “back-office” costs. As part of that, the old charity was properly wound up – words like “removed from the charity commission’s list are emotive and misleading.
All CABs are affiliated to, supported by and regulated by the national organisation referred to which, as you know, but do not mention, is called the National Association of Citizens Advice Bureaux.
As Angela says this is an excellent idea, put forward to provide a way for those who want to, to help those who need it.
thelady – no Big Issue sellers are homeless, the Big Issue was established to help previously homeless people get back on their feet by selling it. She has four children and a mobile phone? Quick, someone call the Daily Mail! How have you established all these facts about her exactly? What “fiddle” exactly is she on? Do you know her backstory, and how she has ended up in Abingdon selling the Big Issue in all conditions? Or is it just easier to look down your nose?
and the Friends of Abingdon and District CAB was set up several years ago to raise money to support specifcally the Abingdon bureau. The money raised helps to replace computers, printers, computer software that the national association of CABx issue, and similasr one-off capital projects that help ouit local bureau function efficiently.
The Friends used to have charitable status which lapsed because we dont need it. Our funds aren’t large enough. I think the start point is £5,000. We aim never to have more than £2,000 in the bank. As soon as we’ve had a fund-raiser Abingdon CAB gives us a prioritised wish-list of things it needs and we provide the funds fo as much off the list as we have funds for.
The fuel poverty initiative is a separate thing that the Friends is running as a pilot, and it will run only over the winter months.
Not all Big Issue sellers are homeless. Almost all of them are when they start selling but the BIg Issue Foindation’s aim is to give peolpe a start in life – and a hand-up not a hand-out. They help in finding homes and sellers can continue in this job they are properly back on their feet with a less precarious way of earning a living.
Big Issue selling is a job not a charity. The sellers are not allowed to beg, they have to buy their copies at cost and the price they sell is double that.
They have to accurately predict how many they will sell since they don’t get a refund for any copies they are left with at the end of the week.
THe Big Issue often has very good articles and is worth what it costs. Buy it for that reason, its not for us to judge how people spend the mone they earn. its not a way i woul;d choose to earn a living, but Im lucky enough not to have to.
THANK YOU ANGELA ! Exactly the point I was trying to make, Hester was asking for people to donate to a defunct organisation in a feature that has now been taken off! ! End of please !
my reply to confussed…I do not look down my nose at anyone …I was told these facts by a reliable member of the community…as I stated I have no solid proof…I am a very generous person and my husband and Inhave given this lady several pounds in the past
Its very difficult to know. In Oxford, as well as Official Big Issue sellers, there seems to be a few people seen clutching the ‘out of date’ copies, using it as an aid to begging. Many beggers are seen being dropped off in Oxford, all carrying rough cards, with I am a homeless person from ———, Speaking to them, I understand they are allocated their pitch…locals take priority…
Its very difficult to know. In Oxford, as well as Official Big Issue sellers, there seems to be a few people seen clutching the ‘out of date’ copies, using it as an aid to begging. Many beggers are seen being dropped off in Oxford, all carrying rough cards, with I am a homeless person from ———, Speaking to them, I understand they are allocated their pitch…locals take priority…
Stories about beggars driving away from their pitches have been with us since I was in short trousers (more than 65 years ago) – and probably from before then. In neolithic times there was probably gossip about the beggar at the cave entrance: “And do you know what? He’s got his own WHEEL!”
One year, at Christmas, I decided to sleep rough for the night in the town where we then lived. It was nasty, cold and the pavement was very hard. I was glad that I didn’t have to live rough without any option; in the morning, I went back to a cooked breakfast.
The Big Issue helps people to make a small living; it is not an easy option. I have been fortunate in my life, but I have never earned anything like the average national wage. People who scrape a living – especially those reduced to begging should be given any help we can give them. I hope nobody on this list has ever had to beg for a living; it must be hell.
The sooner we stop thinking of people as economic units, the better.
Well said ppjs