Fighting Food Poverty with Britain's Busiest Food Banks 

Living in South Africa which could be said to have poverty on a whole different scale and this film still reduced me to tears. Poverty so ugly wherever it appears. Thank you to the volunteers, filmmakers and the brave locals who agreed to share their stories.

This old ladies work endlessly giving their time and strength by helping charities , respect to you all for what you are dong.Great generation.

I've worked in a food bank for 3 years in the UK and it's disgusting how little the state cares or even acknowledges the existence of many food banks. Inequality is on the rise and I worry for the future.

I hope that at the end of filming, the camera crew or someone got Barry Haddock and chips and a nice big cake!

When I became homeless at 21 and I dealt with mental health problems.. not getting alot of money and travelling for interviews and travelling for care purposes I was left with nothing and it was the food bank that gave me the food I needed so I didn't starve that day.. hats off to all people who volunteer to continue working with the community and helping others. Good job

this could happen to anyone, no one knows what will happen in the future,

Barry looking at his life as a whole rather than looking at his life at the present great mind set Barry and good luck for the future

I had to rely on the food bank when I finally got a place in a woman's refuge for my son and I. I had never had to rely on government funds or a charity before. They were amazing and helped me get life back on track.

I've had to use food banks to feed myself and my kids, its not a pleasant experience for your pride but the people that run them are extremely helpful and without them I'd probably not be here to comment.

The Sikh Temples in the UK are also doing great things for all the people struggling for a hot meal. All ppl welcome 🙏🏻

What's even sadder, THIS was before Universal Credit.

Honestly.. I feel like such a privileged arse watching how hard it is for these people...

The old lady giving out the food is the sweetest. I sincerely hope she has grandchildren.

I got two disciplinaries when I worked at a big UK supermarket. I reduced food waste by a lot, which when you think about 2 people is amazing. A huge waste is the bakery, they throw away tons. I was bagging the misshapen, overbaked bread and literally giving it away. The idiotic thing is the moronic managers would rather pay to have 3/4 crages of bread to be dumped rather than be paid or taken for free. The food charity guy was allowed in once a week. Sad thing is it was the greedy customers who got me in trouble. The me me selfish attitude really spoils things for those who really need help. I know not everyone is like that, but you focus more on the bad

This really hits home for me ☹️ now I'm better off, I've lived in Korea and Japan,plenty of money etc..but i will never forget the people who helped me when i was on drugs and alcohol living on the streets. Never forget where you come from and what made you who you are today

27:05 "you've just gotta laugh haven't ya. Cus if ya didn't you'd die. You've just gotta have a cup of tea and get on with it". Touching words mate both sad and poetic.

I help run a large foodbank in the North East and even I had my head in my hands at some of these clients. They're not all like this, guys. We've served food to ex-service men and all sorts of very sad cases. Don't be too quick to judge.

Barry put a bitter sweet smile on my face. He's an amazing guy who fell on hard times. I hope he is doing well. This is so sad. Harsh reminder it can happen to any one of us. I hope everyone reading this will be able to save as much they can, sort out as much debt as they can, and be wiser with their finances. It's easier said than done though.

I wish that the lady with two children who cried his now on top of things.

All those volunteers are amazing. They are doing such a good job. You can tell they really care for the people they help.

I remember when I first got with my Girlfriend we had absolutely nothing. We was relying on food banks to feed ourselves and relying on the kindness of others. Now we're both working, we both have made a donation to the food bank we relied on so badly. No matter how tight money gets as long as we have food in and the rents paid, everything else is a luxury. I'll never forget the nights we both went to bed hungry. I just hope something can be done in the future as its a rising problem

It's the old Geordie mentality to grin and bare it. Barry is a decent, honest bloke and makes me proud to be from Newcastle upon Tyne.

Barry is such an inspiration. Every so often I come back to this video and skip to the last couple of minutes and just listen. I hope hes doing well. From a fellow geordie.

I like Barry, he's definately a glass half full kinda guy.

We meet one of Newcastle food bank's dedicated volunteers, as well as the locals suffering after years of austerity cuts.

25 mins in, the guy talking is very wise, a nice guy aswell. you gotta hopeit works out for him.

I’m so thankful volunteers do this. They work their ass off for no reward just to make sure the most desperate can survive.

I have helped at a church food pantry for about 7 years and everyone that comes through the doors are so nice and very appreciative I love talking to as many of these people as I can

When i had to go to the foodbank... strangely it wasn't the food which helped me but knowing somebody cared and there were many others in same boat

The monologue around 26:00 was powerful. And exactly what I needed to hear. May god Bless that man.

People don’t seem to donate drinks to food banks. Some of these people get their water cut off. But also, a big bottle of squash (I guess non English people would call this cordial, but that implies a lot of expensive stuff, and squash is £1 for enough to make about 10 L) can really cheer people up. Make homemade ice lollies, have something that’s not water to drink. I always donate squash.

I cried at that prayer at the end. What a world we live in where the rich get richer and wallow in it while poor get poorer. It's easy to say " You made bad choices " but that doesn't mean you should be punished for it tor the rest of your life. We are not all given the same opportunities and chances and sometimes your lot in life is just to he average but again that doesn't mean that you should suffer. We have enough resources and money to feed and house every single person in this world. But it will never be the case because if you don't have kindness in your heart no one can put it there. Peace.

When the guy talks about how he's grateful he's lived a full life despite where he is now, I felt so goddamned humbled.

Everything after the age of 50 is a bonus.. that line made me sad because 50 is no age

There is a lot of kindness and compassion that comes forth

" walks round the house with a tourch" that's so sad .bless him

I claim disability due to health reasons which is £75 a week and live in a one bedroom council flat. I do not smoke, drink or take drugs, and I can afford food just fine. From my experience living in a council estate if they're someone that "can't afford food" that is single and doesn't have kids then they're either addicted to drugs or drink.

This broke my heart. That woman sitting on her living room floor was unbearable - and the shame in her face when she was standing in line...

My family was doing okay, until the factory closed. 3000 employees in a county with a population of 30 000. It's been 10 years and we still haven't really recovered. What people dont understand is that the demoralizing and degraded emotions.... those dont go away. The shame of it. It doesn't ease up.

Barry is such a good guy. He has really opened my eyes and reminded me I have to work hard, and to always be kind and grateful. What a great guy ❤

Although there are more people in the worst situations than these on the videos, but this documentary is just so heartbreaking. The long hair guy talking about the Eiffel Tower, etc that just breaks my heart so much. I hope there will be more and more organizations like these across the globe.

Least that jimmy is putting back. On the dole so he volunteer works at food bank. Good for you mate.

I wonder how Barry is doing now, I hope he's ok. His mindset and piece at the end was enough to bring me to tears man

Hits close to home this, it really does (literally too, I live near Newcastle). I was raised in a flat on a rough estate, and we didn’t have to use food banks, because my grandparents would pay all my mum’s bills and food costs. However most of our food was always out of date but we had to eat it because we had no choice. My grandparents weren’t exactly the richest either.

Conquered the world and in less than a hundred years they lost it all. The fuck happened.

Seeing the sunny attitude of the Nukies in such bleak circumstances is heart breaking. Preston, Blackburn, they're similar.

when I was poverty stricken I didn't have money for tobacco or cigarettes. I had to choose between food or smoking. I see quite a few of these folk smoking

Having been in a very bad situation myself and still very depressed, I think another good social assistance initiative would be to teach people how to cook using every part of what they buy. For example, when I buy veg such as leeks, I make soup with the green leaves (bung in a few potatoes too) then use the white parts with a vinaigrette (oil, vinegar and mustard if you have it). Soups can be made from virtually anything, try nettle soup, lovely and full of iron and vitamins, add a potato s&p, so virtually free. If you get a basket of fruit, say, apples, make compote with a bit of sugar. Even the peelings can be used just add a little sugar and cook in the oven. Although I do realise not everyone can afford to put the oven on, when you do, put as much stuff in as possible to cook at the same time. Bung a few onions and potatoes in then sprinkle with some grated cheese... the possibilities are endless. Use the water from boiling potatoes to use for soup.... Just a few suggestions, I hope they'll help somebody, wasting food is a no, no whether you're rich or poor.

I hope someone has watched this then seen Barry and bought him some haddock and chips

I rarely get effected by online stuff but this has made me emotional. I'm from Newcastle, these are people who live a mile from me. What a state this country is in. So grateful for the church and God's steadfast love being shown to these people.

25:26 What a humble bloke!

Very touching and moving, I'm going to apply to help now at my local foodbank!

i absolutely fell to pieces at the very end... thank you, Vice for sharing this wonderful story.

Im from Newcastle myself and can honestly say that that speech at around the 26 min mark hit me straight in the feels. "roll your tab have a cup of tea and get on with it" spoken like a true geordie

23:37 One of the best monologues ever put on film ... hope he's still soldiering on.

Anyone going through a rough patch right now, whatever it is, I wish you all the best. Punch through and get to the otherside.

my heart goes out to the people who are in the program.. they all want to work and provide for their families.. and to the volunteers.. you are doing a brilliant job.. please keep it up

There was quite a poignant moment where Barry says "I'd love to go to the supermarket and get something like haddock and chips or something crazy like that" Why is our country in this state and yet Osbourne continues to decimate the very poorest simply for being poor. It makes me angry in a way I cannot even describe.

ive got to be honest this is extremely heartbreaking. Me and my wife clearly sit in our own bubble in a rural town in the Peak District, professional IT jobs earning enough to get by and actually have a life and its made me feel extremely guilty seeing these people. Every year we take items to our foodbank but i think we need to up our game a bit.

When I lost my job and was in between receiving ESA as I was struggling with addiction, I had nothing, i went from two jobs, to zero. I had no means to feed myself, had it not been for these amazing food banks I would have starved, believe me, when you have nothing, the smallest things become the most precious and valuable. Now I appreciate every tin of soup, or packet of pasta, or bag of potatoes. Thank you food banks for the most amazing thing you do for people that struggle.

Another one of David Cameron's wonderful achievements.

Poor sods as I sit here and eat decent food and I live in UK :(

I needed help once, and I'll never forget it, I always make sure now I put a few extra bits in my weekly shop to help out. It might not be much but I try.

i wantr to hug everyone here especially the gentleman who had his chin up he knew he had and has a good life. aww man bless your hearts this was eye opening for sure

As someone who lives in Newcastle I was shocked, I knew the westend is probably the 'roughest' areas of all but I never knew all of this was going on

Sat here with amazon tabs open, looking at what to buy next. After this, I closed them all and I think I need to learn how to be thankful for what I have. Thank you for making this documentary, it's why I want to be a film maker one day, to have an impact even if it's just on one person.

Where i live in west london the sikh community makes there own initiative to feed the homeless and needy even given out clothing and sleeping bags

This documentary was 8 years ago. The situation is even worse now . How could we have allowed this to happen . These people deserve better

Makes me feel very very lucky to be born in a place where there is jobs. Also got me thinking about volunteering down the road at the center they've got there. Great documentary. Good to see vice isn't what it seems to be on facebook.

What a beautiful and touching documentary. There are some very kind and generous people out there still. :) Thanks for the upload Vice.

Barry's a great bloke. Positive in a lousy situation.

The man at the end has the most incredible outlook on life.

in Italy is even worse, but I can say that free food is also a bait for who doesn't really need it and they just come to have free staff. Its full of thieves and junkies that do not deserve anything but still. Good job and a lot of respect to all the volunteers and charity organizations!

"you can't have something crazy like haddock and chips" If that statement doesn't make you understand just how meager an existence these people live then your bubble really is blinding you Certainly when a channel4 programme is showing a starter that costs over a fuckin grand to buy....... whilst we all argue about religion and football and the like, those with money sit by laughing at us

I could not imagine being old and having to go through this… it’s really sad too see! Least it brings them happiness getting free food 🙌🏻

Thank you so much Vice for doing such a thoughtful and compassionate video. It is appreciated.

24:40 his whole monologue is a piece of art, incredible

Amazing job from this shelter and the volunteers. It def warms my cold heart

Respect to the volunteers......the politicians should hang their heads in shame

This is heartbreaking.......Glad Mary got a tea and some food for the time being and relieved she was not turned away until she brought her doctors note.

That single mother of two made me tear up ;(

Modern life: cold, lonely, ruthless...

Amazing documentary. Keep up the good work Vice!

It genuinely brings a tear to my eye seeing the poverty in such a well off nation

"But they've got money for booze and cigarettes" booze and cigarettes is all some people have if that's their only pleasure why deny them of it. Not everyone has a nice warm house in a warm area and a caring family.

I don't know if it's just me but after watching a heart wrenching video I don't really think it fits to see "Up Next: Getting High with a Hallucinogenic Toad Prophet" :)

I know everyone can't do, but I try to grow a bit of veg in my garden.

I wish I could help them all! Wipe away there tears and hug them all ❤❤

This video makes me cherish what I have and be really thankful. God help these people and everyone else struggling in these tough times.

Its nice to see people looking after each other. I know youtube comments are basically the arsehole of the internet, where all the shit comes out, but I still have to wish people would stop punching down. Its the cognitive dissonace that scares me the most, that and the arrogance to think that a lucky, priviliged life is the same as hard work.

I wish I could talk to Barry. He reached my heart through RU-vid.

This came out in 2015 and as someone who has been living in Newcastle far before then, I can tell that it's far worse now. I don't know what Driscoll is doing with his fancy self in the mayor's seat - certainly not enough.

well what a lovely lot you all are God bless you all the man towards the end that spoke of his life nice person

NOBODY in a wealthy, developed country should go hungry AND NOBODY in a world of plenty should go hungry. A crazy place we live.

Do you see the trap? Barry is prob on a card meter so he's already paying near enough double for his leccy. That electric two-plate cooker is about 30% efficient, so he can only heat up a tin of beans/soup.

People need to be given financial education in school and even as adults, it's very important.

I believe any one of us may find ourselves in a similar situation, God bless the food banks.. Because without them, people would find themselves starving to death, the benefits system isn't working... If you're got a job your kind of lucky however..Let's remember nobody is safe in ones job anymore... If you lost your job.. How fast would folk loose there houses?.. You may have to wait 3 weeks for bennifits.. No food, warmth, lights... So thankyou foodbanks.. And thanks to all those fantastic volunteers...

I love it, someone new comes in and in a very English way they offer the person a cup of tea.

I feel Becky, I see the struggle and understand how it is to keep your head above water somehow to feed your child. I was in a similar position, just in a big city. I made it out by fighting the system and busting my ass. I respect the people at the Foodbanks, treating others with dignity. But I will never understand how people still smoke while talking about not having enough money. £10.40 for a pack of smokes can feed herself and the Kids for 2 days. Smoking is a luxury and I assume, she got it from one of the reporters, yet still. Smoking is an expensive, bad habit. Did it myself, stopped, because I had to choose between my addiction or sleep another night without food in my belly.

i used to help at a place like this until my mental health got bad . i always cried inside seeing others dealing with this x x