I know donations will help, but what are the key steps to change?
Following Scotland’s example, governments need to extend free school meals to all children from families receiving Universal Credit.
This helps to make sure no child goes hungry, regardless of their household income.
Additionally, abolishing extensive waiting periods for benefits, and reintroducing crisis loans would prevent families from falling into food poverty.
The current funding of £2.53 per meal in England is insufficient. It should be increased to at least match the rates in Wales (£3.20) or Scotland (£3.30). This helps to ensure nutritious meals.
Supermarkets and food producers have a key role to play. Expanding initiatives and incentives which redistribute surplus food could help ensure more children receive healthy meals.
Only when the Government develops a holistic approach that addresses the root causes of poverty, including housing, employment, and social support, will sustainable change begin to take place.
Hunger has a direct impact on a child’s ability to learn. Studies show that children who experience food insecurity are more likely to struggle academically, resulting in lower achievement, particularly in math and reading.
Long term, this educational deficit can limit opportunities for higher education and skilled employment.
Food poverty leads to both malnutrition and obesity. This paradox is due to the high cost of fresh, nutritious food. It means families rely on cheaper, calorie-dense, but nutritionally poor food.
Poor nutrition during childhood can lead to stunted growth, weakened immune systems, and increased risk of chronic diseases later in life. The UK is seeing children getting sicker and smaller as a result of poverty and poor diets.
The opposite is also true. Children growing up in food-insecure households are more likely to suffer from chronic conditions such as diabetes and heart disease later in life, placing further strain on the NHS.
Children in food-insecure homes are significantly more likely to experience chronic anxiety, depression, and behavioural difficulties. This often manifests as mood swings, aggression, or withdrawal from social interactions.
The brain’s response to prolonged food insecurity mirrors that of chronic trauma. When children experience persistent stress - uncertainty about where their next meal will come from, seeing parents skip meals to feed them, or feeling the weight of financial struggles, they remain in a heightened state of fight-or-flight.
This prolonged stress can rewire their brain’s response to adversity, increasing their risk of mental health disorders well into adulthood.
Children who grow up in food poverty are more likely to remain in poverty as adults, perpetuating cycles of deprivation. The social cost of food poverty is significant, exacerbating existing inequalities and limiting social mobility.
Children living in food poverty often feel ashamed, particularly as they become aware of social differences between themselves and their peers. Many will go to extreme lengths to hide their hunger, pretending they aren’t hungry, refusing to eat in front of others, or avoiding situations that involve food, such as birthday parties or school trips.
Studies have shown that children experiencing food poverty often struggle with self-worth, developing a sense of guilt or embarrassment about their family’s situation.
This makes it harder for a child to advocate for themselves, even when they're an adult.
Food poverty impacts not just academic performance, but the actual development of a child’s brain. Chronic malnutrition during early childhood affects cognitive function, including memory, attention span, and problem-solving abilities.
A lack of essential nutrients, particularly during critical brain development phases in the first few years of life, can cause irreversible cognitive impairments. This means that even if a child later gains access to adequate nutrition, the long-term effects of early food deprivation may persist, affecting their ability to excel in school or work later in life.
This is often overlooked, but the neurodevelopmental impact can contribute to lifelong disadvantages.
Children living in food-insecure households often experience a sense of shame, stigma, and social isolation. Over time, this can affect their social development, making it harder for them to build healthy relationships.
The lack of participation in such communal experiences deprives them of important social learning opportunities, which can impair their interpersonal skills, confidence, and emotional resilience as adults.
Addressing food poverty isn't just about providing nutrition; it's about preserving a child's potential to thrive mentally, emotionally, and socially.