the facts
FOOD POVERTY AND CHILDREN IN LONDON
More than 400,000 London children face school holiday hunger.
The facts are stark.
Over a third of London’s children are living in poverty – that’s over 700,000 children - as many as Scotland and Wales combined.
COVID-19 has devastated their lives – during the last lockdown 35% missed at least one meal per day and went three days without eating any fresh vegetables or fruit. 400,000 face hunger over the holidays.
We can't let that happen again in 2023.
Don’t let young Londoners go hungry
You can make a difference from as little as £20. Help feed a London family in crisis over the school holidays.
700,000
London families living in poverty.
400,000
London children don’t get enough food.
25%
Face hunger during the school holidays.
Research
The research shows that living standards have plunged for many people during the pandemic, and the poorest families have been hit hardest.
Mayor of London / GLA
The GLA provides more detail on child poverty in London.
Trust for London
Independent research by the Trust for London identifies that 400,000 London children face food insecurity and 25% face hunger at the start of the school holidays
Save the Children
A report by Save the Children found that that living standards in the UK have plunged for some of the poorest families during the coronavirus pandemic, with over a third reporting they are worse off financially since lockdown.
The charity’s survey of households on universal credit or working tax credits found nearly two-thirds had run up debts over the past two months, 60% had cut down on food and other basics, and over a third had relied on charities for food and clothes.
Over a quarter of respondents said it was harder to afford food compared to the start of the pandemic, while 22% reported using a food bank.
Miracles has continued to support families facing poverty as well as a life crisis such as serious illness of a child throughout the pandemic. The most requested item over the past year has been supermarket vouchers.
"
This is the first generation in all of recorded history that can do something about the scourge of poverty. We have the means to do it. We can banish hunger from the face of the earth.
– Hubert Humphrey
-
family stories
Reunited with her wonderful daughters, Tawana makes a fresh start
We met Tawana when she was coming to the end of a 4-year sentence at Send Prison. She was desperate to get back into the world, and, in particular, to get back home to her three amazing children.
The family was thrilled to be reunited at the start of the Covid pandemic and Tawana is now doing her best to make up for lost years. She is establishing her own online clothing business, running the house and being a great mother - living her life - never easy thing for ex-prisoners.
She is also giving back. She’s a part time youth supporter helping young people leaving the care system to gain independence and life skills in the community, which she finds immensely rewarding.
But readjusting to life for anyone coming out prison is tough – for a mother of three, trying to make her own way without the prospect of work, with society breathing down her neck - bringing up three, hungry, children is a huge struggle and responsibility – especially after 4 years away.
Feed London has been able to support her and her family on their journey through these difficult first months together - taking some of the financial burden away, giving space and support to enjoy time together. Her daughters said that cooking together using the Feed London recipes was great fun.
Tawana is a fighter, incredibly positive and determined to make her life work – to be there for her children.
Feed London is there for her when she needs us.
Tawana and her daughters.
The impact of poverty
There are many reasons why a family might be living in poverty – for children it’s simple. They are born into it.
_
Hunger in London
When schools closed during lockdown many children who were receiving free school meals found that the only hot meal they could look forward to all day had stopped. Without it they faced hunger and malnutrition.
Before the pandemic, in 2019, the Greater London Authority estimated that 400,000 children aged 16 or under faced food poverty and food insecurity.
A report by Northumbria University’s Healthy Eating Lab on eating habits during lockdown amongst children who receive free school meals found that half had not eaten any fruit or vegetables at all over a three-day period and 35% said they regularly skipped at least one meal a day.
According to this research over a quarter of respondents said it was harder to afford food compared to the start of the pandemic, while 22% reported using a food bank.
Both the CPAG and C of E researchers found that costs had gone up for many low-income families, many of whom were having to spend more on food and utilities than before. Meanwhile, many had lost work either as a direct result of the lockdown or the loss of support such as childcare.
The governments voucher scheme has proven to be inadequate and flawed and described by the Human Rights Watch as a ‘violation of children and young adults right to food’.
Food bank use has more than quadrupled during in some parts of London during the pandemic particularly in Tower Hamlets and Newham.
When the schools close Feed London will be there – with food, with recipes, with hope and with support.
Researchers from the Child Poverty Action Group (CPAG) and the Church of England (C of E) spoke to parents who said they had been forced to sell possessions to protect their children’s quality of life, and found that 80% of poorer families surveyed felt they had become worse off financially since lockdown began.
Save the children’s survey of households on universal credit or working tax credits found nearly two-thirds had run up debts over the past two months, 60% had cut down on food and other basics, and over a third had relied on charities for food and clothes.
According to this research over a quarter of respondents said it was harder to afford food compared to the start of the pandemic, while 22% reported using a food bank.
_
How does poverty affect children?
Wherever you live poverty has a devastating impact on a child’s life.
Children living in poverty are more likely to:
Have poor physical health
Experience mental health problems
Have a low sense of well-being
Underachieve at school
Have employment difficulties in adult life
Experience social deprivation
Feel unsafe
Experience stigma and bullying at school.
_
Some of the consequences of poverty are:
Health problems
Shorter life expectancy
Lower educational achievement
Biological effects – poverty early in a child’s life can have a harmful effect on their brain development
Housing problems
Being a victim or perpetrator of crime
Drug or alcohol problems
Homelessness
Teenage parenthood
Relationship and family problems
_
What causes poverty?
Unemployment and low-paid jobs
Illness
Low levels of skills or education
An ineffective benefit system
High costs
Discrimination
Weak relationships
Poverty itself
_
Low Pay
Low pay itself does not always indicate poverty – other factors, such as in-work benefits, income of a partner or other family members, family size and housing costs, which are particularly pertinent in London.
Wages have failed to keep pace with London soaring living costs.
In 2017, 730,000 people were paid below the London Living Wage (£9.75 in 2016/17).
People who are BAME are more likely to be ON LOWER WAGES, especially people from Bangladeshi or Pakistani origin, and women are more likely to be low paid than men.
There is a strong link between employment and the number of hours worked in a family and income.
Just 53% of women with children are employed in London, compared to 65% across the UK.
In addition, living in poverty in London is impacted by general cost of living – travel costs are amongst the highest in the world along with food, clothing and entertainment.
_
Abuse, trauma, neglect or chaotic lives
The use of drugs and alcohol can deepen and prolong poverty as can childhood abuse which can impact on mental health in adult life and lead to unemployment.
_
Prison
Prisoners are likely to suffer – having a criminal record makes it very difficult to obtain work.
_
Lack of affordable childcare
Childcare is over 25% more expensive in London than the British average for under-fives – costs are rising much faster than any other region in the UK.