1. Michael Gove MP claimed Food Bank users were “Not able to manage their finances” (evidence)
2. A former Tory Minister claimed “the moment they [Food Bank users] have got a bit of spare cash they are off getting another ­tattoo” (evidence)
3. David Cameron PM said Food Banks are “Part of what I call the Big Society” (evidence)
4. One Tory MP claimed that Food Bank usage can “become a habit” (evidence)
5. Another Tory MP said people use Food Banks because of an “inability to manage money and to budget, addiction to alcohol or substance misuse…” (evidence)
6. Tory Minister, Lord Freud, suggested “food from a food bank is by definition a free good and there’s almost infinite demand” (evidence)
7. A senior Tory Councillor said Food Banks enabled poor budgeters to “have more money to spend onalcohol, cigarettes” (evidence)
8. A Tory MP jibed “how many folks can still find funds to pay for alcohol and cigarettes but not food” (evidence)
9. West Oxfordshire Conservative Future chairman  “I have seen some ‘food bank users’ in the pubs of Witney… #priorities.” (evidence)
10. Iain Duncan Smith MP accused the Trussell Trust of “Scaremongering” (evidence) "(source: http://www.labourleft.co.uk/10-appalling-comments-by-tory-politicians-ab...)

23/01/14 : " Families in Whitby who have been struggling through the tough economic times have been given a boost this week with the launch of the town’s first food bank. ... The food bank is located to the rear of Whitby Evangelical Church on Skinner Street and can be accessed via Poplar Row. Inside are stored boxes and tins of food, freezer items, and other household goods such as cleaning products or toilet rolls."  source:  http://www.whitbygazette.co.uk/news/business/help-at-hand-as-food-bank-g...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S5upN9VqpUQ

09/10/13  "The Base, located in Market Way, is the latest development from Castle Community Network, a local residents-led charity. The new premises is the third point of contact for the network, which also has an IT suite and craft unit in the Market Vaults. The aim of The Base is to allow residents in the Castle ward and North Bay to access an improved range of local opportunities, activities, help and support.  Chairman Lindy Rowley explained: “Since the office in the Market Vaults became a bit overcrowded, we realised we needed a bigger place - somewhere the community can drop in." source:  http://www.thescarboroughnews.co.uk/news/welcome-to-the-new-one-stop-old...

02/05/13 More families than ever are relying upon donations from a Scarborough food bank – set up originally to provide meals for the homeless. The surge in demand has left The Rainbow Centre, in Castle Road, desperately appealing for more donations of food to help keep shelves stocked. Simon Watterson, director at the centre which has run a food bank since it was set up 16 years ago, said: “We have seen a significant increase in demand, for food in particular.” He added: “More and more we are seeing young mums with their kids. In the past that would have been very unusual but now it is not uncommon.” He said families were now asking for help. “We have seen an increase in people approaching us, and a big change in the diversity of people approaching us.“ Historically we would be donating to homeless people but we are now seeing more Scarborians who are finding things difficult and need held feeding their families. “We are seeing families struggling to cope with benefit cuts or changes to circumstances that are leaving a vacuum in their subsistence.”

06/06/14: "Food Banks have been in the news a lot recently, but they’re something they have in other towns right? Not Scarborough... Wrong!" http://www.scarboroughuk.co.uk/2014/06/food-bank-desperate-for-donations...

Age UK list food banks, adding Malton & Pickering : http://www.ageuk.org.uk/scarboroughanddistrict/information--advice/food-...

26/11/14: With Yorkshire Coast Homes 'Can Can' appeal:   which is aimed at boosting the stocks at our community’s much needed food banks, has just received a welcome boost from the Scarborough News and Whitby Gazette.-  http://www.ych.org.uk/news/ych-press-releases/1462672/ych-can-can-appeal...

26/11/14: "Yorkshire Coast Homes (YCH), in partnership with Hartlepool Credit Union, has opened the brand new Futurehome store to offer a wide range of furniture, electrical items and kitchen appliances, all at highly competitive prices.  Sited on the corner of Northway and Victoria   Road in Scarborough, Futurehome is stocking brand new and top quality refurbished home goods from a wide range of major manufacturers, giving shoppers an extensive choice of products to suit most budgets. All store items are available at extremely favourable cash prices, while credit purchases are available through Hartlepool Credit Union, who can arrange cost-effective weekly or monthly terms, at very low interest rates, that compare favourably with many other high street outlets. There is a customer service point within the store, making it easy for customers to access a range of savings, banking and affordable loan options."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3J0YTOGTXMs

further reading:

https://foodpovertyinquiry.files.wordpress.com/2014/12/food-poverty-appg...

https://foodpovertyinquiry.files.wordpress.com/2014/12/food-poverty-feed...

http://www.foodpoverty.org.uk/food-banks/your-food-bank/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pg2np37JNEg :-)

So as for local heros?  Robin Hood "... steal from the rich ... the poor have no money" nope,  Dick Turpin - alas  an Essex boy :  http://www.stand-and-deliver.org.uk/highwaymen/dick_turpin.htm ...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ju_a2-Pve4g ;-)