Launch of future food

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It is unacceptable in today’s society that children are going hungry – this is everyone’s problem and we must all work together if we are going to eliminate holiday hunger. We urge everyone to support the School Holidays (Meals and Activities) Bill and the Future Food Inquiry. Victoria Hickson, head of Communications at Brakes

Protecting children from the scourge of hunger, particularly through the school holidays, was front of mind as politicians, charities and industry gathered for the 3rd Brakes UK Child Food Insecurity Forum.

Headlining the event was the official launch of the Future Food Children’s Inquiry by Sharon Hodgson, MP for Washington and Sunderland West and Shadow Minister for Public Health, which will take an in-depth look at the issues surrounding food poverty, including talking to children and young people as part of a two-year investigation.

With more than five million children expected to be in poverty by 2020 (around a third of all children) Anna Taylor OBE of the Food Foundation outlined the specific objectives of the Inquiry, reporting that children’s diets are in crisis with the UK being disproportionately affected within the EU in terms of food insecurity. She said: “There is a real problem putting food on the table for many families. Food insecurity and poor diets go hand-in-hand.”

Bruce Adamson, Children’s Commissioner for Scotland, echoed the importance of engaging children and young people and using their views to try to influence and develop policy.

Frank Field, MP for Birkenhead, also highlighted the School Holidays (Meals and Activities) Bill which is due to have its second reading in January 2018. The importance of the Bill was highlighted in research presented by Professor Greta Defeyter and Jackie Shinwell (Northumbria University, Newcastle) which highlighted that along with nutritional deprivation there can also be significant learning loss over the summer months.

Following the official launch of the Inquiry, speakers including Peter McGrath and Pem Hulusi highlighted the important work being undertaken by Meals & More to raise awareness of the issue of holiday hunger, including case studies from supporters RP Adams and Three Oceans, as well as Meals & More delivery partner FutureVersity.

Meals & More

Meals & More is a nationwide charitable campaign run by the UK’s leading delivered wholesaler, Brakes. It is driven by Brakes and several of its suppliers, who support meal clubs with enrichment activities in some of the most deprived areas of the UK. The clubs, run in conjunction with local delivery partners, provide nutritious meals and
holiday activities outside of term-time and are aimed at children who normally benefit from free school meals.

Brakes has committed to 500 clubs, with a long-term vision of helping to alleviate child poverty with clubs in a local, supportive environment that boost health, attitude and life aspirations for children of all ages from challenging backgrounds.

Twitter: @MealsMoreBrakes