Basically having to pass through the underground at the bottom of cemetery road, to get to the bottom of the moor. I notice and recogise every begger that accomodates this area. Lately a young-ish looking man, pretty tall, with glasses is usually down there, (people who use this underground know who I mean).
But it seems to me that this perticular begger has a few days off, where for that few days, usually sunny ones, but ocasionaly rainy ones, would not be seen. that is unless you visit dempseys pub.
Now ill put myself in his shoes, I have nowhere to live, need a few pence to get through one day to the next, and maybe treat myself to a quick pint before curling up for the night and dreading the next day.
If only this guy did have just a quick pint, but no, he treats himself to a full sunday dinner, whilst gathered round the table are fellow beggers counting there twentys (also drinking and eating) and joking about how easy life is for them, and how easy the working class are willing to give up their hard earned cash. But what really ****** me off was the fact that this guy with the glasses, was having a right old laugh with his "collegues" about how one generous lady had fetched him a few sausage rolls and a cup of coffee. "stupid T**T" was one of the terms they used when describing her.
These guys are onto one of the best money making schemes
ever, they sit in a tunnel praying on others good nature, and then take **** out of them whilst getting ******.
To me this is out of order and appriciate that there are folks out the who are homeless and do need a helping hand from sheffields generous public, so dont get me wrong im not slating them.
I just hope that after reading this, Errr.... rant, if you will. you will think twice before delving into your pockets to give your cash this this perticular man.
End of rant.

Theres nothing that can be said really

Yes, some people end up like that, but there are many who are half-dead and really do need those couple of pence

Generally, I won't give money. Unless its a big issue

but if theyre near a shop ill offer to buy em a chocolate bar, a cup of tea, a sandwich, give em a cigarette, etc.

and if they say no, well they can **** right off.

None of my loose change is going on skag thank yee very much.

I only give to charities, buskers and big issue sellers for this very reason.

Oh, and I've been known to give Brude's Frolics to somebody for their dog :D

I'll buy a Big Issue from a seller anyday - even if I suspect that the dosh may go on drugs or similar. I also give to buskers.

I do not give to beggers. There is no reason for anyone to beg, and yosser_huges' account amply demonstrates my suspicions about some beggers being genuinely homeless.

Ever seen those beggers who manage to have a dog with them? Is the dog homeless too I wonder?

The cases of 'homeless' people who are not in fact destitute have been documented many times. I have a really hard time walking past anyone who asks me for change without giving them some cash. Regular forummers will know I'm not exactly flush myself at the moment, but I just can't walk past if I am in a position to help.

I realise I've probably been scammed a few times. I'd rather that happen though than not be able to sleep a night! (and by that I mean me personally; not suggesting anyone who does walk past is wrong)

Originally posted by Kristian
[B]The cases of 'homeless' people who are not in fact destitute have been documented many times. I have a really hard time walking past anyone who asks me for change ...I realise I've probably been scammed a few times. I'd rather that happen though than not be able to sleep a night!/B]

Kristian, I have sat on a wall eating chips, and watched a nasty woman begging money off students as she sat on the wall opposite me. I could not believe how many people gave her money! Like 3 out of 5 stopped and dug into their pockets.

I also watched, disgusted, as she spat flehm on the back of the shoes of people who walked past her without giving.

I became so angry watching this that I called the police and reported her for 'aggressive begging' (which I hope is a crime because it should be).

Anyway, the police didn't come but they sent two city centre ambassadors who were able to move her on. They then told me that she was well known in Sheffield city centre and that she has a husband and kids and a house!!!!

(Poor kids).

Originally posted by Kristian
The cases of 'homeless' people who are not in fact destitute have been documented many times. I have a really hard time walking past anyone who asks me for change without giving them some cash. Regular forummers will know I'm not exactly flush myself at the moment, but I just can't walk past if I am in a position to help.

I realise I've probably been scammed a few times. I'd rather that happen though than not be able to sleep a night! (and by that I mean me personally; not suggesting anyone who does walk past is wrong)

Aww Kristian,

you're a soft touch, and I think they can sense it. They do this all day long, and they can sorta tell after awhile who'll fork over with the cash.

There are a group of people in my town who have cardboard signs saying something along the lines of:

HELP! FAMILY BURNED OUT OF HOME! HAVE LOST EVERYTHING! PLEASE HELP!!

The first time I saw them, I gave them $10. This was several weeks ago. Since then, I've seen the same scruffy looking folks outside stores, by the side of a freeway on ramp, and standing in the median strip of a busy intersection.

My daughter's godmother used to regularly give money to a woman with a little girl outside a supermarket until I mentioned it to an acquaintance who told me she actually knew this person. Turns out she would "borrow" her sister's kid to go begging when she needed money. Nice.

:) Sierra

the truth about most of these beggers!!!!
i used to work in Mcdonalds on high street in town and there was a regular begger outside it called steve, steve had a small tan dog called poppy.. now steve had a house near pitsmoor that was not a squat but a council house, in this house he had about 20 dogs and a few of his other "begger mates"

why 20 dogs you ask??? well... he used to rent his dogs out for the day.. yes rent them out!"!!!! to the other beggers in town. this was because people were more than likely to give to them if they had a dog..

when we asked him how much money he would take in a week begging he said an average week ( depending on weather and events in town) was £300 and on freshers week or xmas it was more around £500!!! this is totally tax free,,

i am totally against these people as most of them are doing it to pay for drugs,, on more than one occasion i found them overdosed in the toilets in macs and this one time i had to do mouth to mouth!!! if i had known he was a druggie i would not have done it but he had only just started so he didnt look like one.

Big issue sellers are usually the ones who are really homeless and these people dont usually beg,,,

so before you did into your pockets please stop and think if you are giving it to the right person.

I have to say that nowadays I'm more willing to give food and drink rather than cash.

If someone looks and smells like they're in need, I'll go and buy a hot drink and something with a pile of calories in it.

As the second hand market for fast food is pretty limited, I know that what I'm giving isn't going to end up as drink or drugs.

However, there are people who do need the help - sorting out the real deal from the scum is a big problem.

Joe

I have to agree with some of you, the big issue sellers have to be registered as homless before being allowed to sell them. I think that these people are the real deal. BUT i have heard stories of non-legit beggars purchasing big issues in bulk at very low price and re-selling them.
Remember if you buy a big issue buy it from someone that has an IDbadge.

##MODS##
by the way if my sig violates any of the rules please let me know. and i will remove it.

i never give money to them.

but when i was younger would sometimes let them finish off the bottle of drink id taken out of the pub with me!

A mate of mine at Uni did some work on the homeless in Sheffield and all of them have been offered accomodation in Sheffield and have turned it down so without sounding mean....

... Beggers can't be choosers!

Just realised the pun too.... completely unintentionally!

Soz

I was once approached by this young kid. He was crying and informed me that he had lost all his money and needed his bus fair. I gave him said bus fair. I went home with a sense of wellbeing. The next I saw him in the same place, with the same problem and the same act! Little b******. I have been skanked several times due to my desire to believe peoples' stories, but a lot of the time they're just frauds. And its because of these people that I now give my money to nobody on the streets. With the possible exception of the big issue. Thing is with the big issue is that its just not that interesting. If they were selling guardians or something I might bother.

Yup!

He about 18 mucky face and a blue jacket... he has asked me many many times. He is usually at the bottom of the moor or near the markets.

A guy who hangs out near the train station always asks me for money on my way home from work, saying that he needs 14 quid for a Hostel!!! and i always give him a bit of money explaining i haven't got much change but the last time he said 'GOD you've never got much change on you!!' and the time before that i offered him a sandwhich unopened and he said 'No thanks i'm not hungry. are you sure you haven't got any change!!'

Last time i give him any cash.....or sandwhiches for that matter

It would appear that...

Beggars CAN be choosers

So it does !!!

Tough then they can have sweet F A

I always make a point of buying the big issue.

Contrary to what one forumer has said, I find it is actually a good read.

In order to sell the big issue, the vendors have to go on a training course and have to be off drugs. They must also be polite at all times otherwise they can have their permit taken from them.

They are allocated a specific 'pitch' and time and are not allowed to sell in other areas or at other times. They will have an id number on their badge, which must correspond with the id number on the front of the big issue.

The vendors purchase the big issue and have to sell them in order to make a 'profit' which is then theirs.

If you do nothing else, then buy the big issue - it really does make a positive difference.

Originally posted by savbaby
the truth about most of these beggers!!!!
i used to work in Mcdonalds on high street in town and there was a regular begger outside it called steve, steve had a small tan dog called poppy.. now steve had a house near pitsmoor that was not a squat but a council house, in this house he had about 20 dogs and a few of his other "begger mates"

why 20 dogs you ask??? well... he used to rent his dogs out for the day.. yes rent them out!"!!!! to the other beggers in town. this was because people were more than likely to give to them if they had a dog..

when we asked him how much money he would take in a week begging he said an average week ( depending on weather and events in town) was £300 and on freshers week or xmas it was more around £500!!! this is totally tax free,,

i am totally against these people as most of them are doing it to pay for drugs,, on more than one occasion i found them overdosed in the toilets in macs and this one time i had to do mouth to mouth!!! if i had known he was a druggie i would not have done it but he had only just started so he didnt look like one.

Big issue sellers are usually the ones who are really homeless and these people dont usually beg,,,

so before you did into your pockets please stop and think if you are giving it to the right person.

OH MY GOD that makes me so angry! Every time I see a beggar with a dog it upsets me so much that the poor doggie might be cold/hungry and I'm much more likely to give something. I can't get over the cheek of these heartless manipulative ********!

My point of view is that there are enough min. wage jobs for everyone so there are no reasons to see beggers/big-issue-sellers/I-need-30p-for-bus in Sheffield at all !

I betcha Maccy Ds can cope with entire unemployed population of Sheffield, not that unemps would wanna work there... Still it's there !

Originally posted by Captain_Scarlet
My point of view is that there are enough min. wage jobs for everyone so there are no reasons to see beggers/big-issue-sellers/I-need-30p-for-bus in Sheffield at all !

I betcha Maccy Ds can cope with entire unemployed population of Sheffield, not that unemps would wanna work there... Still it's there !

i am goin on the defense here!!!

there is nothing wrong (well not much) with working in McDonalds, i worked there for 7 years and worked my way to management, it is actually quite a stressful job because people think just cause you work for McDonalds you have no brain at all and they can treat you like dirt!
this is not the case.. McDonalds provides excellant training for a career, i left 2 years ago and walked into a good well paid job... sure McDonalds is not a "job for life" but it would be a good stepping stone for some of the scroungers... i have said my peace !

Everytime I see a beggar i feel really guilty for not giving them any money, but if I do give them some money I feel even more guilty incase i'm helping to feed a drug habit :confused: I hate going into town in case I see any of them!

My point of view is that there are enough min. wage jobs for everyone so there are no reasons to see beggers/big-issue-sellers/I-need-30p-for-bus in Sheffield at all !

Selling the Big Issue, is not just about earning money, there's a whole programme behind it - the sellers go on training courses, keep clean from drugs and get help with money issues, budgeting and finding a home. A lot of sellers don't have the necessary skills or qualifications for other jobs. Serving in McDonalds requires good people skills, confidence and good hygine/care of yourself.

It can be very hard to have even these basic things that many take for granted. Selling the BI really helps create people skills - confidence, interaction, etc, which they can build on to go onto obtain other jobs. I think you can only sell the BI for 2 years, its seen as a next step, not a permanent option.

I don't agree with begging tho - at least the people who sell the BI are helping themselves, are actually doing something, working. Its far easier to sit + beg.

Sorry to bring this back up to the top again but today i saw something rather disturbing.
This perticular guy on the waitrose underground now has a little girl with him (no older than 8.), selling paintings to passer bys. hoping that someone will feel sorry for them both and give some money, i felt sorry for the little girl who was probably forced into this, and felt inclined to delve into my pocket and purchase one from her, however i didn't does that make me a bad person?
I know deep down that this is just another scam so that shold make me feel better. but for some strange reason it does not.
anyone else see this?

I walked past Devonshire Green/Street most days and there seems to be more and more beggers walking up and down with some sob story or other.

I wish you could knock them out because they are scam central. Some people NEED money and some people would rather walk up and down claiming (no money to get to Leeds, to get a bus home, etc etc) than do a hard days work.

I do try not to be the same with everyone, but I did learn my lesson when I saw the beggar outside MacDonald's on the High Street and as I was going in there to wait for a friend, thought I'd buy him a breakfast. I told him, went in and bought a whole MacDonald's muffin breakfast. Got it outside and he'd packed up and left.

What annoys me the most, is it gives others who really do need that extra bit of money, a bad name.

Originally posted by yosser_huges
Sorry to bring this back up to the top again but today i saw something rather disturbing.
This perticular guy on the waitrose underground now has a little girl with him (no older than 8.), selling paintings to passer bys. hoping that someone will feel sorry for them both and give some money, i felt sorry for the little girl who was probably forced into this, and felt inclined to delve into my pocket and purchase one from her, however i didn't does that make me a bad person?
I know deep down that this is just another scam so that shold make me feel better. but for some strange reason it does not.
anyone else see this?

Please ring the police if you see this little girl again. The child appears to be being used to open people's purses and wallets -and if so, the begger is committing an offence. The child needs to be protected from being used in this way.

This child may not be the begger's own child, and may be being passed around a number of beggers, or even 'hired out'. For the sake of the child, please report any such sightings to the police without delay.

I reported the matter to a city embassador who was walking down the moor, they said that they would check it out. so i assume that they either cleared him off and/or phoned the police. but if i see her again dont worry the authorities will be informed.

most so called homeless people are there by choice. it's usually their own fault due to them being weak by taking drugs.

Thanks yosser_huges for your reassurance.

There have been cases of children used in begging ruses - and apart from the adults commiting a criminal offence, there is a need to ensure the protection of vulnerable children.

Originally posted by robbie
Some people NEED money and some people would rather walk up and down claiming (no money to get to Leeds, to get a bus home, etc etc) than do a hard days work.

Ask them how they got here or why they need to go to Leeds - shuts them straight up.

If they want 30p to get home ask them what service they are using. I find if you challenge the question they usually back away

Within two minutes today i was asked by two different women if i could give them 50p for the bus fare home, this happened between HMV and Argos, is this the new lastest con to raise money for booze and drugs.:suspect:

I'm sorry, but beggers are my pet hate. I resent it so much that I work so hard to pay my way and yet here are these little scallies sitting on their arse all day and getting paid for it! I usually yell at them "get a job like everybody else loser" to which people usually give me really harsh looks for. But why should I sypathise? They chose to drink/take drugs, they chose to do nothing about it when they had a problem, and from what I've heard, they don't chose to help themselves out of their situation. Huge generalisation I know, but they are lazy and completely useless :rant:

We cant paint all the so called beggars by the same brush, some people are there by choice and some are not, those who wish to beg to me are the ones we should not give money to, there are people who work to help the homeless and offer advice and food/clothes etc: things can only be changed in this life if you want to change them yourself, may homeless now get help through things like the BIG ISSUE, and get some respect for it, some beggars i admit are just arse'oles, and want a fix. My advice would be to give if you want, but give to the people who help them first, like the s-army, alittle help goes along way!

I wanna know exactly how far 30p gets you on the bus?

I can't stand beggars either, mainly becuase they can all get houses or flats from the council if they are in such a bad situation. One bloke came up to my friend when she was walking through town and said 'will you give me some money im homeless blahblahblah...' when she said 'no' he said if you don't give me anything I'll just go and rob someone'!

Also, that blonde druggie who has been discussed in a huge thread somewhere before came up to me a few days ago and said 'I'm homeless, can you give me 90p to get home!'How thick can you get??

They really do just prey on people who feel guilty to give them money, and I'm sorry but even if someones on the streets for a genuine reason they can get help and get a flat off the council easily.

Originally posted by NicolaE
I can't stand beggars either, mainly becuase they can all get houses or flats from the council if they are in such a bad situation. One bloke came up to my friend when she was walking through town and said 'will you give me some money im homeless blahblahblah...' when she said 'no' he said if you don't give me anything I'll just go and rob someone'!

Also, that blonde druggie who has been discussed in a huge thread somewhere before came up to me a few days ago and said 'I'm homeless, can you give me 90p to get home!'How thick can you get??

They really do just prey on people who feel guilty to give them money, and I'm sorry but even if someones on the streets for a genuine reason they can get help and get a flat off the council easily. Have you thought about becoming a social worker?

I recall a couple of years back reading in the Star that the police decided to have a purge and swept every single beggar in the city centre up, and it turned out that not a single one was genuinely homeless.

In fact one, who begged in the subway near the Crucible, legged it to his brand new sports car and tried to drive off....

Originally posted by NicolaE

Also, that blonde druggie who has been discussed in a huge thread somewhere before came up to me a few days ago and said 'I'm homeless, can you give me 90p to get home!'How thick can you get??


LOL! did you point out what she'd said? that lass needs locking up i tell you, flaming, dirty smackhead!

Also, that blonde druggie who has been discussed in a huge thread somewhere before came up to me a few days ago and said 'I'm homeless, can you give me 90p to get home!'How thick can you get??

Don't get me started about her, 3 times in one night and a really aggressive reaction each time I asked her what she would be spending the money on really?

Has anyone seen the amount of blatant addicts that stand begging by the phone box on the corner of Harcourt Road next to Crookes Valley Park? Sometimes its really intimidating trying to negotiate them all as they swarm all over you

Originally posted by 1Man&hisBMW
I wanna know exactly how far 30p gets you on the bus?

On First's prices about 10 yards.

Originally posted by d71146
On First's prices about 10 yards.

don't be daft! Minimum fares 50p for hundred yards lol!!

Just going back to the big issue issue, there seems to be a few around the university who have no issues just a yellow bib or some kind of official looking card and say "I've got no issues left but give me some money".
Anyone else had this?

HAHAHA, what makes me laugh is the ones that sit next to the cash machines on West Street/Glossop Road (Barclays Bank) and ask for money.

"Oh yeah mate, here, you have this £20 note that I've been hard earning all week, and I'll go home and watch telly".

Idiots.

I didn't bother pointing out what blonde druggie had said- I didnt want her to spit at me/swear at me so I tried to escape asap. She also once asked me for bus fare and I said I'd only got a bus pass and no change. She replied 'yeah, I've only got a bus pass too, t**t!'Not the brightest of people really...

well they dont have much choice

yup imo beggers should either accept the hostels etc they are immediatley entitled to or fek off

Originally posted by mullers
HAHAHA, what makes me laugh is the ones that sit next to the cash machines on West Street/Glossop Road (Barclays Bank) and ask for money.

The bank staff spend half their lives trying to get these people moved. The ambassadors do a good job of removing them but they're usually back again half an hour later.

I doubt that any of the beggars one encounters in Sheffield is truly homeless. Homelessness in say, India, can mean just that: no home and no likliehood of ever getting a home.
A visit to the city council's homelessness department here in Sheffield will secure a roof over one's head very quickly.
There are easily enough vacant properties for every one of these people to be housed.
So why don't they do this? because they prefer to live as they do...as this thread shows, it is an easy life.
I have been approached by beggars in Sheffield who really pushed this 'homeless' story. I always try to point out the ease with which they could get a house, a job and climb back into society. They never want to hear this! they are having too good a time as they are.

i was approached by that mucky blonde haired girl with the crutch today on high st begging for money again, i didnt give her a penny as she stunk of white lightning.

i was approached by that mucky blonde haired girl with the crutch today on high st begging for money again, i didnt give her a penny as she stunk of white lightning.

Think I know the one you maen, and shes not homeless. she is an alcoholic though.

shes more front than woolies, if u see her another time guess what the crutch has gone lol.

Beggars do not need to be there at all! There is absolutely no need in modern times.

There are plenty of community services, volentary organisations and charity services to assist genuine people in need.

Many street "beggars" are chancers who are just looking for an easy way to earn some quick cash.

I will only ever give to genuine collectors and big issue sellers.

And for anyone out there who thinks i'm being harsh. I work in the community sector and spend my life getting verbal and somtimes physical abuse from people who we try to help and so have little sympathy for those who will not make the effort to come to the services we provide instead of just bugging people on the street.

I strictly donate to charities. I find it very hard for anyone to be down and out in Sheffield. There are plenty of facilities that can help poor people and people that need housing. In London it is a lot harder and I can totally understand how hard it is to survive there but Sheffield is housing grant friendly and benefits.

that bloned haired girl with the crutch dont allways have it on her some times a bloke does

Have you seen the "killing with kindness" campaign? It was run in the City of Westminster and highlights that all the hard earned spare change that people give to beggars usually goes straight to their veins. There is no need to give to beggars. There are voucher schemes that run in the city where you make a donation and get some vouchers which you can give to beggars. They can redeem them for food and various locations around the city.

Killing with kindness has it's own website

I strictly donate to charities. I find it very hard for anyone to be down and out in Sheffield. There are plenty of facilities that can help poor people and people that need housing. In London it is a lot harder and I can totally understand how hard it is to survive there but Sheffield is housing grant friendly and benefits.


Quite Right. Hardship does not exist. How can it when playstations and consumer goods are so plentiful.

Let's all join hands and skip to happy la-la land where chocolate fountains run forever and edible daisies fall from the sky, and we don't have to look at any ugly side of the real world

Basically having to pass through the underground at the bottom of cemetery road, to get to the bottom of the moor. I notice and recogise every begger that accomodates this area. Lately a young-ish looking man, pretty tall, with glasses is usually down there, (people who use this underground know who I mean).
But it seems to me that this perticular begger has a few days off, where for that few days, usually sunny ones, but ocasionaly rainy ones, would not be seen. that is unless you visit dempseys pub.
Now ill put myself in his shoes, I have nowhere to live, need a few pence to get through one day to the next, and maybe treat myself to a quick pint before curling up for the night and dreading the next day.
If only this guy did have just a quick pint, but no, he treats himself to a full sunday dinner, whilst gathered round the table are fellow beggers counting there twentys (also drinking and eating) and joking about how easy life is for them, and how easy the working class are willing to give up their hard earned cash. But what really ****** me off was the fact that this guy with the glasses, was having a right old laugh with his "collegues" about how one generous lady had fetched him a few sausage rolls and a cup of coffee. "stupid T**T" was one of the terms they used when describing her.
These guys are onto one of the best money making schemes
ever, they sit in a tunnel praying on others good nature, and then take **** out of them whilst getting ******.
To me this is out of order and appriciate that there are folks out the who are homeless and do need a helping hand from sheffields generous public, so dont get me wrong im not slating them.
I just hope that after reading this, Errr.... rant, if you will. you will think twice before delving into your pockets to give your cash this this perticular man.
End of rant.

this is not typical of homeless individuals -its an extreme example!

Killing with kindness has it's own website

could we have a link please?

Some people are genuinely homeless - but not many are actually 'roofless' meaning absolutely nowhere to sleep. I have no doubt that a lot of people who are begging in Sheffield don't sleep rough, and they get benefits. I now prefer to donate to organisations like Shelter than to give money on the street. Shelter offer structured support and maintain a 24hr helpline.
John Bird who founded the Big Issue has some interesting comments about people who are homeless, this article is from last year but is very relevant to the discussion on here: http://society.guardian.co.uk/homelessness/story/0,,1516524,00.html
I thought the Big Issue was a great innovation in its early days, homelessness in London was rife and it was a way of getting people motivated and back into work/society. I think there are too many people trying to sell it wherever you go now, and some of the sellers are also a bit suspect, specially the ones who only have 'just one last copy' and no visible badge!