Not Very Christian.

[Glammanana]

This morning early on I was standing in the queue in my bank and in front of me where a couple who looked a bit down on their luck,the woman told the chap to go outside whist she was waiting to be served and "do some busking to make a few quid" the poor man shuffled out trailing the two small suitcases behind him and started to sing xmas songs,the lady behind me reached in front of me and mentioned to the lady her coat was torn and she told the woman she lived on the streets and the coat was warm so the tear was not important to her,the lady then said to me would I hold her place in the queue whilst she got her boyfriend from outside so he could make a withdrawal,when they had both gone up to the counter to be served the lady behind me said to me,fancy having that as your boyfriend he is so scruffy and unkempt,I told her we can't all have fairy tale lives and dress to impress and that considering the time of year she was being far from charitable and compationate.When I got outside the bank I caught up with the couple and directed them to my DDs Community Store for them to be supplied with Cold Weather packs which we supply to all needy people we come across whatever their circumstances,I hope that the lady who commented always has the essentials in life as she certainly has no empathy at all.

[ZIZI]

Unfortunately Glam, as you know, there are a lot of people who choose not to understand the plight of certain people. I work with the BITC Ready For Work programme and have done for over ten years. I was once cked into an email from a "buddy" on one of my sites alerting he site team (about forty people) that a homeless person was going to be on site for two weeks and to ensure they locked away all their phones, wallets and valuables. I was completely horrified. The point of the programme is to give a homes/formerly homeless person a bit of a leg up, a bit of confidence, something to put on their CV not to treat them like a criminal wih no reason.

The analagy I give when we are buddy training is that there can be a perfectly "normal" happy life and it is like a table. Some things happens like losing a job, a leg falls off but with three legs remaining it can still stand. Then due to the stress of unemployment there is a divorce, oops there goes another leg. Still the table can just about stand but is wobbly. If the person is the father, generally speaking, he will be the one to leave the home and that is when the whole thing can come crashing down and that is when things happen like homelessness, street living, crime (out of desperation) etc.

A lot of us are only a few steps away from being in that position. I am proud of my association with the programme and pleased to announce that my sites have provided five jobs this year for the RFW clients. Would like more but five out of 25 X 2 week work placements is reasonable.

I hope open the two people you are referring to followed your instructions and went to get a cold weather pack Glam. X

[Oma]

Doesn't say because you haven't got new clothes or are able to have a regular wash that you don't deserve to be considered decent , what a horrible woman I hope no one she loves is ever on the streets as they wouldn't get sympathy or help from her would they

[Libra Gran]

"There but for the grace of God" comes to mind.Some people have no idea or any empathy for those down on their luck.

[Nanto2girls]

I agree with everything thats been said.

ZIZI, you have every right to be associated with the progamme.

[Daisy]

Glamm - good for you for giving that poor couple information about the Cold Weather packs and sticking up for them. I hope the other woman in the queue is never in need herself and I hope she thinks more carefully before she speaks next time.

Zizi - I know how much care, thought and effort you put into the ready for work programme, and how a work experience like that can make the world of difference to someone whose confidence has been knocked out of them by circumstances.

We are all only a few steps away from being in that sort of situation.

[Plantaholic]

Well done Glam, I am sure they were very grateful for your kindness.

I am sure you get a lot of satisfaction Zizi when you are able to get unfortunate people back into work

[Glammanana]

Zizi welldone with your success rate we also have placements come to us through a programme called Learn Direct people come to us on a 4 week or 6 month contract and this last year we have placed 2 people in permanent employment after boosting their confidence to enable them to attend interviews,my DD is the main contact with the programme and she puts a great deal of her spare time into raising awareness to the programme always trying to find placements from shops/companies who will help with volunteer training.

[Gemini]

Glamma, what a kind thing you did, and how lucky that you were there.

Some people are so judgemental and have no empathy with others at all.