Bad press for Accrington.

[ToffeeGuy]

Can't Hyndburn BC or Peter Britcliffe or someone send out a press release to counter-blanace this article? Not a very nice picture of Accrington.

Millions of working families one push from penury, Guardian research finds | Society | The Guardian

[lettie]

Why should anyone want to counterbalance an article which is actually true? I worked for several years on the district in Accrington and the poverty is shocking. Many of the worst off were working families who earned a quid or two more than the cut off for any kind of benefit to assist them.

Some working families that I visited had no carpets in the house, just plain floorboards. Hardly any furniture, no washing machines, tv or fridges.

Funnily enough, the families who weren't working seemed to be much better off. They had their rent paid, usually a decent telly, washing machine, fridge and the latest mobile phones

I think that it will be an uphill battle for the government to convince some of our families on benefits that they are better off working because, sadly, they're not.

[susie123]

Originally Posted by lettie

Why should anyone want to counterbalance an article which is actually true? I worked for several years on the district in Accrington and the poverty is shocking. Many of the worst off were working families who earned a quid or two more than the cut off for any kind of benefit to assist them.

Some working families that I visited had no carpets in the house, just plain floorboards. Hardly any furniture, no washing machines, tv or fridges.

Funnily enough, the families who weren't working seemed to be much better off. They had their rent paid, usually a decent telly, washing machine, fridge and the latest mobile phones

I think that it will be an uphill battle for the government to convince some of our families on benefits that they are better off working because, sadly, they're not.

Sad but true, Lettie.

[jaysay]

Just stop reading the crap the Guardian churns out week after week after week

[garinda]

The C.E.O. of Exerian, the company whose findings prompted this report, is on an annual salary of $1,400,000.00.

Perhaps someone from Accy should nick his job.

It would mean dripping on the whole town's bread.

I agree with Lettie, those in work are very often less well off, and in a more precarious position than those on benefits. Which is wrong.

Personally I always struggle with the headlines that shriek that one in three children in the U.K. live in poverty.

In my book if you have access to a free health care, free education, own a mobile phone, and have satellite television aeriel, that ain't what I call real poverty.

[garinda]

Originally Posted by ToffeeGuy

Not a very nice picture of Accrington.

It's not bad.

Admittedly the sky's a bit grey, that's usually the norm, but all the slate roofed terraces look pretty.

[jaysay]

Ya every time you see these "poor kids" they all have a phone to their ear and the latest nike trainers and tracksuits on

[Margaret Pilkington]

My father was out of work for a while in the 1990's(it was 1991 - he died in Feb. 1992).......my mother earned 50pence more than the threshold, at which he would have been give a bit more in the way of benefits....he was advised to leave her so that he would be eligible for benefits...needless to say he didn't take that advice they just made the best of what they had, and did without things that they could not afford.

[mobertol]

Originally Posted by garinda

It's not bad.

Admittedly the sky's a bit grey, that's usually the norm, but all the slate roofed terraces look pretty.

How strange -I thought it was actually a good photo of Accy too! Quite Lowry-esque somehow and beautiful in its way!

I always wonder why we measure poverty in terms of electrical appliances though...

[mobertol]

Originally Posted by Margaret Pilkington

My father was out of work for a while in the 1990's(it was 1991 - he died in Feb. 1992).......my mother earned 50pence more than the threshold, at which he would have been give a bit more in the way of benefits....he was advised to leave her so that he would be eligible for benefits...needless to say he didn't take that advice they just made the best of what they had, and did without things that they could not afford.

I remember going for an interview in Cambridge after the entrance exam - would have been 1982 -my Dad, an engineer, had been made redundant at the time and was working for a local funeral parlour while he was looking for a job in his sector (was reminded of this at my Aunt's funeral the other day -remember him setting off for work all smart in dark suit and black shoes). Most of the other interviewees parents were something in The City or teaching at Oxford or cambridge -I remember being proud of my dad's job -the main thing was he was doing his best for his family...funny how it was so important "what daddy did!"

Accy had a proud history in Engineering - seems to have disappeared -it's such a shame.

[garinda]

Originally Posted by Margaret Pilkington

...they just made the best of what they had, and did without things that they could not afford.

Sadly the question most would probably ask today is, why?

To which the puzzled people of that generation would answer, that that's just what you do.

[maxthecollie]

If they haven't got everthing they want , they are "poor"

[Boeing Guy]

Any Guardian Readers, or just those who think that those who don't have large flat screen tv's etc are in poverty, I suggest you visit parts of the Third World, something I do on a regular basis (I just got back from Libreville, Gabon). Then you will have a understanding what Povery really is.

Any more and I will start to sound like one of the Four Yorkshire Men...

[annesingleton]

Poverty is relative and none of us in Britain live in a Third World country. People here all seem to have material goods whatever their income, but to me there is a complete lack of aspiration and worthlessness in the section of society we would class as being in poverty. They seem to accept their lot and not see that there is anything better for them. I don't know what the answer is but from my professional experience I think that we need to be able to change attitudes - I've seen and continue to see families living in situations that none of us would wish to be in.

[ToffeeGuy]

Originally Posted by garinda

It's not bad.

Admittedly the sky's a bit grey, that's usually the norm, but all the slate roofed terraces look pretty.

I was writing metaphorically as per the picture of Accrington the article painted. Although it was interesting that they didn't choose picture of the fine Victorian Town Hall or Market.