Commit to following the recommendations of the national food strategy and expand:
- Free school meals to 1.5 million more 7 to 16-year-olds
- The holiday hunger programme
- The Healthy Start fresh fruit, milk and vegetables voucher scheme for pregnant mothers
Why is this important?
The coronavirus pandemic will dramatically increase unemployment and poverty. Many people are already struggling to put food on the table and this is only going to get worse. The government needs to act fast to stop children in the UK going hungry.
A lack of nutrition at an early age can cause huge problems later on in life and stops children from being able to concentrate at school. One of the solutions recommended by the national food strategy is to expand free school meals and holiday hunger schemes from children for all households on universal credit.
It’s a simple way to help ensure children across the UK are getting enough food to eat.