This document discusses the issue of holiday hunger among children in the UK. It defines food poverty as the inability to afford or access nutritious food. During school holidays, many children who rely on free school meals lose this source of food. The document recommends several programs to address holiday hunger, including providing meals and activities during holidays, ensuring families can access benefits, and conducting research on best practices. It concludes that a national campaign and increased funding are needed locally and nationally to identify families in need and deliver good food in a safe environment during school breaks.

1. 6 Hungry Weeks
North East Child Poverty
Commission
Lindsay Graham Gateshead June 2014
@LindsayGrahamUK

2. Food poverty
Food poverty is the inability to afford, or to
have access to, food to make up a healthy
diet. It is about the quality of food as well as
quantity. It is not just about hunger, but also
about being appropriately nourished to attain
and maintain health.
Bristol City Council Report Food Poverty 2013

3. ‘Filling the holiday hunger gap’
United Nation’s Convention on the Rights of the Child
‘Every young person has the right to a standard of living
adequate for the child’s physical, mental, spiritual, moral and
social development’.
Child Friendly version!
‘You have the right to food, clothing, a safe
place to live and to have your basic needs met.
You should not be disadvantaged so that you
can't do many of the things other kids can do’
The Government is under a state duty to provide ‘material
assistance and support programmes, particularly with regard to
nutrition’

4. Food Banks and Holiday Hunger
Trussel Trust 2013

5. Challenges
• FSM unavailable
• Pressure on family budget - debt, utility, food
• Benefit delay ,sanctions - changes
• School readiness and learning decline
• Safeguarding risk elevated
• Access and availability
• Family Stress
• Spike in domestic abuse
• Social contact diminished

10. 1907

11. 2004

12. 2014

13. Recommendations of FHHG
• Research to gather baseline and best practice
• Signposting for families to support
• LA duty of care on child poverty including food
poverty – funding guidance to support
programmes
• Finance investment

14. Examples
No Kid Hungry , Make Lunch, Holiday Kitchen
www.nokidhungry.org
•Campaign to improve access to healthy breakfast and summer feeding and
after school food programs
•Cooking shopping programmes
• Help eligible families access benefits
• Ensure access to balanced, nutritious diets for all pregnant women and
preschool children.
www.makelunch.org.uk
•21 + lunch kitchens in UK
•Volunteers , community venues
•2x weekly – 5 days
•Activities and support
HOLIDAY KITCHEN

15. Conclusion
Core principles that apply to any UK programme
(eg -Identifying families, FSM, activity provision, good food,
Screened volunteers, safe delivery environment, 2 named lead
officers etc)
National campaign
Investment locally regionally nationally
Research data collection gauge need
A signposting services that align social benefits /welfare funds
This presentation acknowledges - APPG SF, USDA, No Kid Hungry USA, Make Lunch, Holiday Kitchen , Ashram, Barnados, Durham
University , Trussel Trust , Bristol City Council and UN
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