6 Hungry Weeks North East Child Poverty

Commission

Lindsay Graham Gateshead June 2014@LindsayGrahamUK

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

‘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 safeplace to live and to have your basic needs met.You should not be disadvantaged so that youcan'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’

Food Banks and Holiday Hunger

Trussel Trust 2013

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

1907

2004

2014

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

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

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 campaignInvestment locally regionally nationallyResearch data collection gauge needA 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“Copyright @ 2014 Lindsay Graham Ltd. All rights reserved. Any unauthorised use, copying or reproduction of this publication will constitute an nfringement of copyright.Disclaimer: Whilst every effort is taken in the preparation of the presentation, Lindsay Graham Ltd makes no warranty as to the content, accuracy, timeliness, suitability or completeness of the information therein.”