On Tuesday this week Barnardo’s published their latest report ‘A Crisis On Our Doorstep’, exposing the severe impact of the cost-of-living crisis on children, young people and families across the UK.
Peter Shreeve, Assistant District Secretary of the National Education Union, said:
“The findings of this report indicate the interests of children are not being helped by national policy.
“First, the pandemic and now the cost-of-living crisis has significantly worsened child poverty. On reading this report, one gains the impression that national Government policy-making has not had any real positive impact.
“YouGov polling for Barnardo’s in February found child poverty and hardship has worsened over the previous four months.
Shreeve: The huge level of need is obvious
Mr Shreeve went on to say,
“Between autumn 2018/19 and autumn 2022/23 free school meal eligibility has risen more than 60 percent on the Island from 2,452 to 4,008. In February, Cllr Debbie Andre, Isle of Wight council’s cabinet member for children’s services, said a good indicator of child poverty is free school meal eligibility.
“We agree. We have been arguing this for some time and thus we endorse the recommendations by Barnardo’s for universal free school meals in primary schools. The huge level of need is obvious. It’s growing and the Government must act decisively to stop children ‘slipping into poverty as a result of the cost-of-living crisis’.
“Free school meals for all children in primary schools would put money back in parents’ pockets. It is an effective way to tackle child hunger. It promotes learning too. We hope the Government will listen to the majority of parents and commit to funding free school meals for all children in primary schools.”
