A spokesperson for The Food Foundation said: “The commitment to continue funding for the Holiday Activities and Food Programme, confirmed in the Chancellor’s budget, shows Government recognises the importance of shoring up the diets of our most disadvantaged children.
“But rather than an end point, this measure is only a first step in a much more comprehensive solution needed to alleviate child food insecurity in the UK.”
Recent data from The Food Foundation shows that between February and July 2021 parents reported that due to food insecurity:
- 1,363,520 children had to rely on low-cost food
- 1,267,970 children had not had balanced meals
- 394,020 children had not eaten enough
- 369,850 children skipped meals
Around 2.5 million children live in households that experienced food insecurity between February and July 2021- approximately 27% higher than pre-Covid.
A Food Foundation spokesperson added: “It is extremely worrying Government has not allowed more children to become eligible for Free School Meals despite this being a recommendation in the National Food Strategy. Both Scotland and Northern Ireland have inclusion criteria for Free School Meals which allow more children to benefit than in England.
“As we emerge from Covid-19, Government has a clear opportunity to deliver on its levelling up agenda: this must start with ensuring all children have equal access to a healthy diet.
“It is therefore vital that Government does what’s right and expands the Free School Meals scheme, to ensure that children living below the poverty line are given a genuine nutritional safety net. We will continue to encourage the Government to expand the scheme before even more families reach crisis point.”
According to a YouGov survey 84% of the English public think the Government should be responsible for helping children impacted by food poverty and 80% would support the expansion of free school meals eligibility.