Issue 1: Divided Society The Voluntary System Lesson starter; Make a list of all the help available for poor people in Scotland in 2013.

Today we will… Identify what is meant by the ‘voluntary system’ Describe the help available for poor people around 1900

I can… Complete a 5 mark question on the problems facing the poor in 1900 Identify the topic that four topical definitions match

The Voluntary System Around 1900, the system of help for the poor in Britain was voluntary. This meant that if people were in need it was up to them to put money into saving schemes or join societies which would help them when they were in need. If you chose not to join (and pay), there would be no help.

Copy the table below. Use the information in the PowerPoint to complete the table. Task One Copy the table below. Use the information in the PowerPoint to complete the table. Name of Society How did it work? Friendly Societies – Insurance The Co- operative Movement Savings Banks

Friendly Societies – Insurance People would pay a contribution whilst working, and then when in need (unemployed) get money back. 8,000,000 people had made a contribution to a Friendly Society by the 1890s

The Co-operative Movement Members of the working class grouped together to help themselves by forming Co-operative Societies. Bakers, grocers and funeral parlours would agree to provide low cost food and services to each other.

Savings Banks Pay up while working and have money saved for a 'rainy day'. 'Penny savings banks' were aimed at the poor. Post Office Savings Accounts were very popular. Between there were 663,000 openings. By the 1890s openings were up to 5,776,000.

Charities around 1900 The Salvation Army (saved souls through religion) Dr Barnardo’s Childrens Homes Ragged Schools (free education) St Vincent de Paul (Catholic charity for the poor)

Pros and Cons of Charity Provision In the 1900s there were over 200 free schools for poor children Types of charities included hospitals for the ill, orphanages and religious organisations. Charities provided by giving money, shelter or by using a particular expertise, e.g. medical help. It depended where you lived what charity was available; bigger cities had more charities but also more people in need Charities often selected the people they were willing to help according to whether they felt they were the deserving or undeserving poor. This meant many went without help. Many had a religious aspect which put people off.

What help did the Government provide? Each area in Britain had a poorhouse. In England they were called workhouses. These were paid for by the local people who paid their rates to the local council. Poor people would be interviewed to decide whether they deserved the ‘Poor Law’ Outdoor relief meant that they could stay at home and be given help. Indoor relief meant entry into the poor house. Those who were able to and unemployed were seen as undeserving and would be given nothing or would be taken into the poorhouse to work for their keep.

Conditions in the Poorhouse Conditions were deliberately awful so people would try and find work instead Most rich didn’t want to pay more to improve the workhouses Scottish poorhouses were slightly better; there was no forced labour They were like prisons to many people. Families were separated and the work provided was boring and repetitive.

The poorhouse/workhouse would be the very last resort. People would rather beg, live on the streets and rely on charity than go into the poorhouse. About 90% of poor didn’t take the chance to go to a poorhouse The ‘Poor Law’ system couldn’t cope with the amount of poverty in Britain's cities

Class/ Homework Task Use your notes to make a mind map or spider diagram entitled; ‘What help was available for the poor in 1900?’ Use colour and pictures/ symbols to make it a useful revision guide

National 5 Question Source A describes the help available for the poor at the start of the century. The attitude of the government at the turn of the century was to ‘leave alone’ – leave the poor to deal with their own problems. There was some help dotted around the country for the poor. Barnardos was a charity which provided residential accommodation for children, mainly orphans. There were religious too like the Salvation Army which helped those in need. However people were less likely to ask a charity for help if they had to practise the religion too. 1.Describe the help available for the poor in Britain around marks In your answer you should use the source and your own knowledge