"No child should have empty bellies this summer holiday"
Back to Basics want to help parents to get healthier foods for their children over the summer holidays
Last updated 6th Aug 2021
A Ripon food group's urging families to buy fresh fruit and veg and not rely on unhealthy snacks over the summer holidays.
Back to Basics provide fresh ingredients and recipes for families to cook together to get them away from more expensive processed foods.
They are highlighting the importance of fresh food over the school break as it's cheaper and healthier.
Struggling families can contact Back to Basics and they'll get a food pack delivered every week.
Helen Mackenzie, founder, said: "There is a stall holder on Ripon market who always helps us out. I just have to call and ask for however many baskets of fruit and veg and he'll sort it for us to give out to the families.
"One time I took this fruit round and one of the kids said "OH MY! FRUIT!" and I just thought that it was so sad. Fresh fruit is so important so I'll always do whatever I can to get that.
"I don't think it's right that kids are going hungry. I just want people to ask if they need it and it doesn't have to be forever. It could just be for the holidays.
"I do understand it is hard to ask but it is temporary for some people, maybe even because they were on furlough but are back working. If they say to me 'OK we don't need help anymore' that's fine but I always tell them they can come back if they need us.
"There are many families out there which are struggling but haven't come out and asked and I can't do anything unless they do."
Marcus Rashford, who pressed the Government to U-turn on their decision to scrap Free School Meal vouchers over the holidays last year has urged health professionals to help get more families in need signed up to the scheme.
He has backed a number of child food poverty incentives and became the youngest person to top the Sunday Times Giving List by raising £20 million in donations from supermarkets for groups tackling the issue.
The England and Manchester United player said he is concerned that more than 40% of those eligible for the Healthy Start scheme are still not registered.
He said that, while thousands more have been benefiting from it after concerted efforts last year, it is possible numbers are now plateauing''.
In an open letter to health professionals, published in the BMJ, he said: Since November 2020, members of the Child Food Poverty Taskforce have used their channels and platforms to communicate about the Healthy Start scheme and to tell people how to access it, with the hope that we will be able to reach the majority of those most in need.