• Contact
  • About
DONATE
NEWSLETTER SIGN UP
  • Login
North East Bylines
  • Home
  • News
    • All
    • Brexit
    • Education
    • Environment
    • European News
    • Health
    • Politics
    • Science
    • UK News
    • World News
    A sign with the "not equal" symbol is held in a crowd

    Inequality and development: from global to local

    South Tyneside's only black electric taxi

    A sustainable policy for Tyneside taxis

    Ben Houchen by Scott Hunter

    Alleged National Audit Office review of Teesworks

    Child poverty protestor

    Child poverty: enough is enough

    Boys with kite in Kabul

    One year since the fall of Afghanistan

    North East for Europe at an earlier London march

    The North East in London for National Rejoin March

    Tyne Bridge

    Newcastle shortlisted for Eurovision 2023

    Fishing protest

    Dead crustaceans on North East coast: the next chapter

    NUFC foodbank

    Howay the lads and lasses: the new football foodbank season ‘22/23

    Trending Tags

    • Ukraine
  • Culture
    • All
    • Animation
    • Books
    • Illustrations & More
    • Music
    • Performance
    • Poetry
    • Social Media
    • Theatre
    • TV & Radio
    The Rock Showman

    Hardwick Festival is down with the kids

    Witty Look

    All aboard the festival bus for Hardwick this weekend

    Boys with kite in Kabul

    One year since the fall of Afghanistan

    Eurovision sign

    The North East could host Eurovision in 2023

  • Lifestyle
    • All
    • Fashion
    • Food & Drink
    • Health & Fitness
    Master Chef of Great Britain

    Master Chef of Great Britain at Lumley

    Prezzo

    Discovering the new summer menu at Prezzo

    Chef and son

    MasterChef’s’ Posh Street Food chef’s own summer of entertainment

    Scottish highlands

    The beauty of the Scottish Highlands

    Kleo Tabuku

    Top chef to open Newcastle restaurant, Lovage

    Pop up park

    Pop up to the park in Sunderland

    The Blackbird Inn, Ponteland

    The Blackbird Inn flies high with its new summer menu

    gymnast

    Culture of fear in British gymnastics uncovered by the Whyte Review

    Kennedy and Rhind

    Kennedy and Rhind: more time to enjoy a North East favourite

    Trending Tags

    • Business
      • All
      • Economy
      • Rural
      • Technology
      • Trade
      • Voluntary Sector
      Ben Houchen by Scott Hunter

      Alleged National Audit Office review of Teesworks

      Fishing protest

      Dead crustaceans on North East coast: the next chapter

      Scottish highlands

      The beauty of the Scottish Highlands

      loo

      A room with a loo

      Newcastle quayside

      Newcastle named as one of the best cities for graduates

      Brexit economics

      New research shows the economic effect of Brexit

      Wetherspoons pub

      Wetherspoons sparkle: has it gone flat?

      Leon Fussell rehearsing

      Unsung Heroes at Queen’s Hall, Hexham

      Houchen and spade

      Vampire daylight: a week in the life of Ben Houchen, Tees Valley Mayor

      Trending Tags

      • Region
        • All
        • Co. Durham
        • North East
        • Northumberland
        • Teesside
        • Tyneside
        • Wearside
        A sign with the "not equal" symbol is held in a crowd

        Inequality and development: from global to local

        South Tyneside's only black electric taxi

        A sustainable policy for Tyneside taxis

        Ben Houchen by Scott Hunter

        Alleged National Audit Office review of Teesworks

        Child poverty protestor

        Child poverty: enough is enough

        Tyne Bridge

        Newcastle shortlisted for Eurovision 2023

        Wildfire at Witherwack

        “Busier than Bonfire Night” as wildfire rages for over 20 hours

        Fishing protest

        Dead crustaceans on North East coast: the next chapter

        NUFC foodbank

        Howay the lads and lasses: the new football foodbank season ‘22/23

        Summer, Lower East Side. Weegee Ⓒ ICP (International Center of Photography)

        Classic Street Style: Weegee, Doisneau, Forsyth: three cities, three photographers, three decades

        Trending Tags

        • Opinion
          Titanic coming out of Southampton

          The 110th anniversary of the Titanic’s departure

          There is an England

          There is an England

          Prime Minister Boris Johnson signs the Withdrawal Agreement with the European Union"

          The parody of disinformation: Boris Johnson on Ukraine and Brexit

          Boris Johnson’s comments on Ukraine and Brexit are an insult

          TV Agency staff jumping in the air

          The TV Agency celebrates 10th anniversary with global success

          North East of County Dublin

          North East of England and North East of County Dublin: Compare and contrast

          North Sea oil rig

          Copping out of COP: Ukraine, fossil fuels and nuclear fusion

          Placard with Boris Johnson as a clown

          Dictators, media and mobility: erosion of identity, sustenance and safety

          close up on a child's eye

          Racism and misogyny where there should have been safeguarding and security

        AUDIO
        No Result
        View All Result
        • Home
        • News
          • All
          • Brexit
          • Education
          • Environment
          • European News
          • Health
          • Politics
          • Science
          • UK News
          • World News
          A sign with the "not equal" symbol is held in a crowd

          Inequality and development: from global to local

          South Tyneside's only black electric taxi

          A sustainable policy for Tyneside taxis

          Ben Houchen by Scott Hunter

          Alleged National Audit Office review of Teesworks

          Child poverty protestor

          Child poverty: enough is enough

          Boys with kite in Kabul

          One year since the fall of Afghanistan

          North East for Europe at an earlier London march

          The North East in London for National Rejoin March

          Tyne Bridge

          Newcastle shortlisted for Eurovision 2023

          Fishing protest

          Dead crustaceans on North East coast: the next chapter

          NUFC foodbank

          Howay the lads and lasses: the new football foodbank season ‘22/23

          Trending Tags

          • Ukraine
        • Culture
          • All
          • Animation
          • Books
          • Illustrations & More
          • Music
          • Performance
          • Poetry
          • Social Media
          • Theatre
          • TV & Radio
          The Rock Showman

          Hardwick Festival is down with the kids

          Witty Look

          All aboard the festival bus for Hardwick this weekend

          Boys with kite in Kabul

          One year since the fall of Afghanistan

          Eurovision sign

          The North East could host Eurovision in 2023

        • Lifestyle
          • All
          • Fashion
          • Food & Drink
          • Health & Fitness
          Master Chef of Great Britain

          Master Chef of Great Britain at Lumley

          Prezzo

          Discovering the new summer menu at Prezzo

          Chef and son

          MasterChef’s’ Posh Street Food chef’s own summer of entertainment

          Scottish highlands

          The beauty of the Scottish Highlands

          Kleo Tabuku

          Top chef to open Newcastle restaurant, Lovage

          Pop up park

          Pop up to the park in Sunderland

          The Blackbird Inn, Ponteland

          The Blackbird Inn flies high with its new summer menu

          gymnast

          Culture of fear in British gymnastics uncovered by the Whyte Review

          Kennedy and Rhind

          Kennedy and Rhind: more time to enjoy a North East favourite

          Trending Tags

          • Business
            • All
            • Economy
            • Rural
            • Technology
            • Trade
            • Voluntary Sector
            Ben Houchen by Scott Hunter

            Alleged National Audit Office review of Teesworks

            Fishing protest

            Dead crustaceans on North East coast: the next chapter

            Scottish highlands

            The beauty of the Scottish Highlands

            loo

            A room with a loo

            Newcastle quayside

            Newcastle named as one of the best cities for graduates

            Brexit economics

            New research shows the economic effect of Brexit

            Wetherspoons pub

            Wetherspoons sparkle: has it gone flat?

            Leon Fussell rehearsing

            Unsung Heroes at Queen’s Hall, Hexham

            Houchen and spade

            Vampire daylight: a week in the life of Ben Houchen, Tees Valley Mayor

            Trending Tags

            • Region
              • All
              • Co. Durham
              • North East
              • Northumberland
              • Teesside
              • Tyneside
              • Wearside
              A sign with the "not equal" symbol is held in a crowd

              Inequality and development: from global to local

              South Tyneside's only black electric taxi

              A sustainable policy for Tyneside taxis

              Ben Houchen by Scott Hunter

              Alleged National Audit Office review of Teesworks

              Child poverty protestor

              Child poverty: enough is enough

              Tyne Bridge

              Newcastle shortlisted for Eurovision 2023

              Wildfire at Witherwack

              “Busier than Bonfire Night” as wildfire rages for over 20 hours

              Fishing protest

              Dead crustaceans on North East coast: the next chapter

              NUFC foodbank

              Howay the lads and lasses: the new football foodbank season ‘22/23

              Summer, Lower East Side. Weegee Ⓒ ICP (International Center of Photography)

              Classic Street Style: Weegee, Doisneau, Forsyth: three cities, three photographers, three decades

              Trending Tags

              • Opinion
                Titanic coming out of Southampton

                The 110th anniversary of the Titanic’s departure

                There is an England

                There is an England

                Prime Minister Boris Johnson signs the Withdrawal Agreement with the European Union"

                The parody of disinformation: Boris Johnson on Ukraine and Brexit

                Boris Johnson’s comments on Ukraine and Brexit are an insult

                TV Agency staff jumping in the air

                The TV Agency celebrates 10th anniversary with global success

                North East of County Dublin

                North East of England and North East of County Dublin: Compare and contrast

                North Sea oil rig

                Copping out of COP: Ukraine, fossil fuels and nuclear fusion

                Placard with Boris Johnson as a clown

                Dictators, media and mobility: erosion of identity, sustenance and safety

                close up on a child's eye

                Racism and misogyny where there should have been safeguarding and security

              No Result
              View All Result
              North East Bylines
              No Result
              View All Result
              Home Region North East

              Newcastle United Fans Foodbank: Meaningful Dignity

              Colin Whittle, Steve Hastie and Bill Corcoran started Newcastle United Fans Foodbank, raising funds and feeding our fellow citizens.

              Bill CorcoranbyBill Corcoran
              11-07-2021 07:00
              in North East, Tyneside, UK News, Voluntary Sector
              Newcastle United foodbank supporters

              NUFC fans with the 'Dignity' banner Photo by author

              Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
              ADVERTISEMENT

              History is like the tide coming in; sometimes you see it, sometimes it floods you without warning. The 21st Century started like the tide you can see; a cleaning torrent of optimism that swept doubt aside, giving us what now seems like blissful prosperity, culture and awareness. We even had decent football with Sir Bobby and Newcastle United in the Champions League. Looking back it seems unreal; especially as the tide coming in now resembles an upsurge of sewage in your front room at 3am. Between 2008 and 2010, a combination of Mike Ashley, Nick Clegg and David Cameron started to stink up the crannies, austerity was allowed for 5p carrier bags and the bad times began.

              Food should be a right

              An optimist looks for positives, but clever people need to be pessimists. Football teaches us that, that the last minute winner for us is an aberration;  normally we are being swept away by better, more expensive, younger footballers from richer teams from inferior cities like Liverpool, Manchester and London….football seeks out contentment and challenges its veracity.

              An optimistic search for the silver lining of community resistance should not mitigate the filthy stinking cloud in Benwell, Elswick, Walker, Byker and everywhere. In 2020 in Britain, food should be a right; slaves got fed, prisoners get fed, children of Universal Credit claimants often don’t – or their mothers starve to ensure they survive, then those kids go to school and try to get through the day as their mothers worry.

              The necessity for foodbanks is a disgrace

              The presence of foodbanks in our city is a disgrace and we long for the day they are abolished. There is no consolation in the resistance of the people as it isn’t worth the outrage to their dignity and hope. The long-term effects of austerity are to be dreaded and need preparation now. Recently, I heard a representative from a charitable organisation admire the ‘resilience of the poor’…why should they be resilient? Why can’t they be happy instead? Leave resilience for engineering…

              Newcastle United Fans Foodbank

              Colin Whittle, Steve Hastie and I started the Newcastle United Fans Foodbank in late 2016. It has attracted and merited all kinds of praise for its achievements of raising funds and awareness and feeding our fellow citizens since then. Thanks to the kindness and generosity of the NUFC Fans and others at St. James Park, online and at the many events we’ve attended, we’ve collected the equivalent in food, cash and sugar puffs (don’t ask!) of over £350,000 – or enough to cater for about 30% of the needs of the West End Foodbank, which now feeds people all over the city and region.

              Even during the Covid-19 hiatus wonderful people like the readers of www.nufc.com have raised £18,000, the UCU (University and College Union) Runners have got us £4,000 and a wonderful feller who tried to sell his prized autographed NUFC shirt because he was skint insisted on diverting the £1,000 his mates raised to us, rather than accept it himself. Utterly heroic.

              We’re in weird times. The word ‘foodbank’ is used on adverts to validate corporate social responsibility, clapping for NHS workers happened, delivery drivers were smiled at, and yet the same malicious evil snobbery about the poor is never too far away.

              Our first matchday collection vs Sheffield Utd. made over £1000 from a crowd of only 10,000; with wonderful NUFC fans bringing money they’d saved up for us. Readers of www.nufc.com raised £24,000. The “matchday bucket” on Twitter is raising funds at Euro 21 games still. The pressures of the pandemic, increased demand at Newcastle Foodbank (it now covers east and west end) as demand by 61% (April’20-’21) and over 50,000 were fed including 20,400 children; (Figures from John McCorry, CEO of Newcastle Foodbank).
              This just confirms and affirms the incredible response of our people towards adversity.

              Child poverty event in Newcastle

              I attended an event the Beatrice Webb Trust arranged in Newcastle a couple of years ago on child poverty. There I learned that 19% of the population absolutely believed that poverty was always the fault of the poor, despite all data and science. They fetishize prejudice and blame, citing ‘facebook-facts’ on drink, drugs, greed, stupidity, laziness, upbringing, culture…. and all the other things that you can hear in impolite society. Just 12% knew that factors of luck or circumstance were the true cause and the rest, (the 69% majority), believed what they read in the newspapers or social media….reading the bile that tabloid columnists regurgitate.

              At this conference, amidst the professors and practitioners, I was able to say that we’d never heard any of that 19% (in an average Newcastle United home crowd, that would be 10,000 people) or witnessed their impact. Instead we’d seen kindness, decency, engagement, generosity and care for collectors who are often female, BAME and not match-goers. People who help by collecting in the Gallowgate weather, which is usually cold, wet, windy with occasional snow; people who aren’t wealthy or can even afford to attend the football.

              Free tickets from NUFC fans
              Photo by Bill Corcoran
              Rooting kindness in 2021: the year of the tree

              Jack Monroe

              That’s why when we saw Jack Monroe’s article (@BootstrapCook), where she described the impact that poverty, insecurity, cold, and stress still had on her life; the weirdness of fame without fortune; the anger and isolation, the emotional impact that waits when she jumps at loud noises, we had to send our support from football fans. There are many negative issues that come with being a football fan. People may think, or have been told, that we’re pot-bellied, drunken, violent sexist racists; they’d be wrong, but people always know that we stick with our friends.

              If you need to feel part of something, being in the middle of the Gallowgate End, drunk and full of communal rage, exploding with utter delight at a last-minute winner against Chelsea in a volcano of emotions that doesn’t care what gender, orientation, age,  race, creed, wealth,  opinion, (dis)ability or anything that you are…that should be on an NHS prescription. Maybe one day it will be.

              Volunteering

              Dan Jackson (@Northumbriana) says the NHS is investigating whether prescribing volunteering (eg at NUFC Fans Food Bank) could be part of a solution for people who now just get pills. Maybe it would be a nice experience for Jack to be part of that – even though it’ll probably be an awful 0-3 home defeat…. Maybe giving our people hope will help them; help their pride, explaining that the truth of the North’s history is one of artistic, economic and social excellence, not poverty, decline and foodbanks. That our future is positive with them.

              Jack Monroe is someone we’ve never met or even a person whose voice we’ve ever heard. Her life and struggles are a matter of her personal Twitter record and her bravery, compassion, creativity, strength and resilience shines through, as does her pain, suffering and loss. I don’t know which team she supports though. However, like the Irish saying says, she’s a friend of ours that we haven’t met yet. Our offer to come and have a cup of tea and go to the match is one of undying comradeship and support, because she’s helped us and ours – and she will receive any help we can give her in return.

              Byker Grove

              Newcastle West End Foodbanks Benwell HQ is next door to ‘The Towers’, known by many as ‘Byker Grove’. My Grandad was a Mines Rescue man who worked there. He was, by all accounts a good feller, he and his mates had a saying that they ‘never leave anyone behind’; they bring the men back, alive , dead or broken… he used to say “ keep a’had” (keep a hold) at times of trouble. It means to gather your strength to resist the moment and wait for better times.

              We’re not accepting Foodbanks for our people. We, in common with other football fans, have designed the “Right to Food” plan. It advocates free meals for all at school (and teachers!!), it advocates keeping premises open after school so communities can be fed, or be with company and overcome the isolation of the pandemic. We’re going to hold a public meeting in September to advocating this, and a “Living Income” and showing the work of the Pathways programme at the Foodbank.

              The pandemic showed Foodbanks, (and homelessness) could be abolished by government in a week if necessary. We’ll remember that and keep going until they are a memory. We’ll be outside St. James Park for the new season.

              We say that to Jack Monroe and everyone, that the summary starvation, degradation and condemnation of our fellow citizens will not stand. We will win and our revenge will be the laughter and contentment of the people.

              Jack Monroe will always be a heroine for what she has achieved already. Being a wonderful mother, being strong in adversity and being a hopeful human being. I reckon she’s a pessimist; but she’s welcome here any day. She read the article and said she’d come when she was able. We all look forward to that.

              ADVERTISEMENT
              Previous Post

              Student Finance, Universities, and the North East

              Next Post

              Middlesbrough Women’s Football Club and North Korea

              Bill Corcoran

              Bill Corcoran

              Volunteer at NUFC Fans Foodbank and Tyneside Irish

              Related Posts

              A sign with the "not equal" symbol is held in a crowd
              North East

              Inequality and development: from global to local

              bySophie Lively
              August 17, 2022
              South Tyneside's only black electric taxi
              Environment

              A sustainable policy for Tyneside taxis

              byMark Bell
              August 17, 2022
              Child poverty protestor
              North East

              Child poverty: enough is enough

              byPeter Benson
              August 15, 2022
              Tyne Bridge
              European News

              Newcastle shortlisted for Eurovision 2023

              byYvonne Wancke
              August 12, 2022
              Wildfire at Witherwack
              North East

              “Busier than Bonfire Night” as wildfire rages for over 20 hours

              byNorth East Bylines
              August 11, 2022
              Next Post
              Photo by Nick Bonner

              Middlesbrough Women's Football Club and North Korea

              Want to support us?

              Can you help North East Bylines to grow and become more sustainable with a regular donation, no matter how small?  

              DONATE

              Sign up to our newsletter

              If you would like to receive the North East Bylines regular newsletter, straight talking direct to your inbox, click the button below.

              NEWSLETTER

              LATEST

              A sign with the "not equal" symbol is held in a crowd

              Inequality and development: from global to local

              August 17, 2022
              South Tyneside's only black electric taxi

              A sustainable policy for Tyneside taxis

              August 17, 2022
              The Rock Showman

              Hardwick Festival is down with the kids

              August 17, 2022
              Ben Houchen by Scott Hunter

              Alleged National Audit Office review of Teesworks

              August 16, 2022
              Witty Look

              All aboard the festival bus for Hardwick this weekend

              August 16, 2022
              Child poverty protestor

              Child poverty: enough is enough

              August 15, 2022

              MOST READ

              A sign with the "not equal" symbol is held in a crowd

              Inequality and development: from global to local

              August 17, 2022
              South Tyneside's only black electric taxi

              A sustainable policy for Tyneside taxis

              August 17, 2022
              The Rock Showman

              Hardwick Festival is down with the kids

              August 17, 2022
              Ben Houchen by Scott Hunter

              Alleged National Audit Office review of Teesworks

              August 16, 2022

              BROWSE BY TAGS

              Audio Beach Brexit Business castle leazes climate activism Co. Durham cost of living crisis Culture defra democracy ducklings Economy Education Environment fire and rescue firefighter Food & Drink food poverty Health Health & Care Home Affairs just stop oil Lifestyle Local Lockdown Northumberland Peace Performance Politics pride month refugee rescue Science Social Media Teesside TV & Radio Tynemouth Tyneside Ukraine volunteer Wearside

              We are a not-for-profit citizen journalism publication. Our aim is to publish well-written, fact-based articles and opinion pieces on subjects that are of interest to people in the North East and beyond.

              North East Bylines is a trading brand of Bylines Network Limited, which is a sister organisation to Byline Times.

              Learn more about us

              No Result
              View All Result
              • Contact
              • About
              • Letters
              • Donate
              • Privacy
              • Bylines network
              • Shop

              © 2022 North East Bylines. Citizen Journalism | Local & Internationalist

              No Result
              View All Result
              • Home
              • News
                • Brexit
                • Education
                • Environment
                • UK News
                • Transport
                • World News
              • Politics
              • Opinion
              • Lifestyle
                • Culture
                • Music
                • Poetry
              • Business
                • Economy
                • Technology
                • Trade
              • Donate
              • Newsletter sign up
              • Boriiis Cartoons
              • Authors
              • Audio

              © 2022 North East Bylines. Citizen Journalism | Local & Internationalist

              Welcome Back!

              Login to your account below

              Forgotten Password?

              Retrieve your password

              Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

              Log In