Sysco GB and Meals & More, the national charity founded by foodservice provider Brakes, have partnered to brief parliamentarians on the growing child food poverty crisis facing the UK.
The pair are calling on the government for further support, having attended the Tackling Food Poverty event last week, which saw MPs, Lords and Westminster colleagues hear about the progress being made to end holiday hunger and the hurdles that still need to be overcome.
It provided the opportunity to talk to MPs about the reforms that are required to strengthen the Holiday, Activities and Food Programme (HAF), which provides the basis for the government’s response to child hunger in school holidays.
“We are committed to tackling child hunger and isolation during school holidays. And that means going beyond our direct support for the organisations that provide children with safe and fulfilling activities, to engaging our MPs and policymakers on the wider challenges,” said Meals & More chair of trustees Richard Cooper.
“We are reassured by the engagement across the house and the support for our call on the government to extend the HAF to match the eligibility for free school meals in September – reaching millions more children.”
In June, the government announced plans to extend the eligibility for free school meals, in a move that is set to benefit an additional 500,000 school children, and to revise School Food Standards, which specify what types of food should be served at school and how often.
Sysco GB CEO Paul Nieduszynski added: “Meals & More has provided more than 2.9 million meals over the last 10 years. Sadly, it’s clear that there’s much further to go. We need to double down on support for children over the holidays when the safety net of the school system is missing.”
Just last week, the government secured new partnerships with British retailers and brands to provide school breakfast clubs with exclusive offers.
Since April, 750 schools have been taking part in an early adopter scheme where they have been funded to provide access to a free, universal breakfast club lasting at least 30 minutes that includes food.
Now, Sainsbury’s, Morrisons, Weetabix, and charity Magic Breakfast will provide early adopter schools with discounts and free deliveries.
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