Norfolk foodbank calls for "complete review" of the benefits system
Latest estimates from 'Child Poverty Action Group' shows that 23% of children in the East of England are in poverty
A woman in charge of a foodbank in West Norfolk is telling us that a "complete review" of the benefits system is needed, to ensure that nobody struggling misses out on vital support.
It's as work from the 'Child Poverty Action Group' shows that 80,000 kids in the East are wrongly missing out free school meals due to paperwork-related issues.
"It's all about investing in their future and the future of the country"
Helen Gilbert works with the Trussell Trust charity, in King's Lynn and says this will hit the poorest the hardest, at the worst possible time:
"Families are going to struggle to pay for school meals and to support their children with after-school clubs, along with other things that might cost money. It's means that children are going to miss out on vital enrichment, things which are vital for their development.
"With children it's all about investing in their future and the future of the country more generally. So that we have people who can confidently enter the workforce and support themselves effectively throughout adulthood.
"We've had a really busy to the start of the month and we're seeing a lot of families who are having to spend a lot of money on new uniform and school equipment. It takes a lot out of people's budget, especially if they have more than one child."
The work in more detail:
Child Poverty Action Group (CPAG) is urging Government to reform the qualifying criteria and move towards removing means-testing from the dining hall so that more children get the food they need and local families struggling with rising costs get some breathing space.
They want an auto- enrolment system to also be set up immediately so that no child currently entitled falls through the cracks because of paperwork.
Infants are guaranteed a free school meal (FSM) in England but children in Year 3 and above in households on universal credit only qualify if their family’s income is below £7,400 per year (before benefits and after tax) to qualify. This threshold has not changed since 2018, despite inflation.
Their research shows children’s health, attainment and social experiences in the dining hall are improved when free school meals are available to all children. Universal provision also supports home-school relations through the elimination of school dinner debt.
Latest estimates show twenty three per cent of children in the East of England region are in poverty.
"We should be giving children the nourishment they need to succeed"
Kate Anstey, Head of Education at Child poverty Action Group, said:
"It’s hard to focus on your times tables when you’re hungry at school. But in every corner of the East of England kids are going without the food they need because the qualifying threshold for free school meals is out of date and much too restrictive.
"In line with its mission to tackle child poverty and improve children’s well-being, the Government must urgently make free school meals available to every child that needs them and work towards removing means-testing entirely from the dining hall.
"This would take some financial pressure off struggling families and give them peace of mind, while helping to ensure that every child has what they need to make the most of school. We should be giving children the nourishment they need to succeed, not settling for what they can get by on."
What's the Government doing on this?
In their manifesto, Labour said they will provide free breakfast clubs in every primary school in England- to drive up attendance, standards and improve behaviour.