Budget fails to deliver for hungry children

Community Campaign for Food in Schools*

The ‘Community Campaign for Food in Schools’ says the Budget has failed to deliver much-needed additional investment in food programmes in low decile schools but welcomes the news that the government will respond fully to the Expert Advisory Group on Solutions to Child Poverty in coming weeks.

“The Budget takes some small steps towards alleviating the impact of poverty, with insulation and budget advice but there is little that will make a practical difference for the 80,000 children who arrive at school hungry because of poverty and disadvantage,” says Deborah Morris-Travers.

“Other Budget initiatives in health and education, such as the Rheumatic Fever programme and Positive Behaviour for Learning will be less effective if children’s fundamental nutritional needs are not being met. Children need government policies to be coordinated and mutually reinforcing so that all of their needs are being met.

“We remain optimistic that the very good social and economic case for improving the heath and education of children, and supporting this with food in schools, will be supported by future government announcements,” concludes Ms Morris-Travers.
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