Children Go Hungry Over The Summer Holidays

[fiction-factory]

Did anyone see Matt Alwright, matt Baker and Alex Jones- and inarticular Emma Thompson who had areal go at the government- looking at this issue yesterday.
Ther ahve also been newspaper articles eg https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/food-bank-donations-uk-children-hunger-summer-holidays-trussel-trust-a8475516.html

Can it be true? 4 million children go hungry? Children are noticealy losing weight? parents chhosing bewteen food for them and food for their children. They acknowledged the problem ha sexisted for hundreds of years but the 'expert' seemed sure it had got a lot worse in the last 5-6 years and austerity. was mentioned . The case stud was anurse who had to take her children atoa food club.

I can see there is a point here that if we provide free school meals to millions of children in the term time we are accepting there is a problem in term time, so perhaps help should be extended to the holidays. But I find it hard to imagine that simple meals can't be provided at an affordable cost by parents (using child benefit)- jacket potatoes, carrot and lentil soup. bananas, blackberry crumble.

When I see these case studies I often want to ask questions no-one seems to ask - like how much do you spend on tattoes or on that piece of jewellery round your neck, do your dogs not eat either or if you are a single mum does the father contribute.

Is there a real problem here or is it something we should leave parents and charities to sort out. I'd like to see a TV documentary on some cases with perhaps someone like Ann Widecomb or Edwina Currie asking questions to balance the horrified/sympathetic BBC /Emma Thompson type views..

i'm also wondering how this loss of weight that's referred to fits in with the supposed obesity issues for children- maybe it's different children.

Sorry, not really a question, jsut a collection of ramblings and observations. I wondered what others think.

[bednobs]

i'd also like to ask what do those parents do when the children are 7 and stop getting free meals?

[ummmm]

When I split with my ex I only had my income. I had a job but I also had a mortgage and bills to pay. I had to skip loads of meals so my kids could eat a healthy diet.

I used to lie to them saying I'd already eaten. I absolutely believe there is food poverty and it's not just people on benefits.

[sunny-dave]

Despite being a "tree-hugging, muesli-knitting, PC leftie" [© assorted ABers over the years], I have always been of the opinion that child benefit (and much other benefit too, if it come to that) should not be paid in money but rather in hypothecated vouchers/credits for food and clothing and rent.

I know this removes people's "right to manage" - but this is all too often a "right to fail to manage", and the nanny-state option is surely preferable?

[ummmm]

I think most people use it wisely, Dave.

[-Talbot-]

I wouldn't have a clue what percentage are just crap parents and what percentage are genuinely struggling to feed their kids... But I know far too many crap parents.

Parents who send their undernourished kids to the shop for fags and booze.

[douglas9401]

When I was at primary school I get the feeling that there was a rule stating a maximum of two fat kids per class because almost everybody was stick thin, like kids are supposed to be when they're running around doing stuff all day.

It'll do the fatties no harm to miss a meal on a regular basis and will stand them in good stead in later life.

Whiny milksop do-gooders are not to be listened to.

[nailit]

I personally know someone who works, pays a mortgage and a large chunk of his wages (quiet rightly) in CSA payments. However when he has his kids staying for the holidays his parents have to provide food for his kids as he can barely support himself. No tattoos, no pitbulls, no cigs or white lightening. Just someone struggling to feed his kids.

[Mamyalynne]

I also saw that piece and though we know the problem will be real for some I felt it was a bit over dramatised and included many who needed somewhere for the children to be occupied during the holidays as well as those struggling to do beans on toast for lunch.

I can see that if your budget is tight to the last penny the extra expense is a strain but like others wondered about the high figures mentioned.

[sunny-dave]

It only needs 5-10% of people to be misusing (through malice or ignorance) CB for millions of children to suffer - I'd rather demean/embarrass the other 90-95% by using non-convertible means of payment and so reduce the problem - it *is* public money after all and should be applied to the specific expenditure for which is is intended.

[Old_Geezer]

I don't know why there's a problem in term time that needs solving. Taxes go into a welfare system, why isn't it working ?

[sunny-dave]

Nailit - the relevant question in your friend's case is "Why isn't the mother sending 'food money' with the kids" - she is having a holiday from feeding them, but has been given the money to do so?

[Kathyan]

Talbot, that's half the problem. Whenever you see people on benefits moaning about cuts or having to go to foodbanks they usually have a cigarette on the go. I remember when Jamie Oliver did his programme about getting people on benefits to cook healthy meals from scratch, one of the women said she couldn't afford the ingredients, but every time she was on screen she had a cigarette in her hand! It's a case of priorities.

[nailit]

SD, because the law doesn't make an allowance for that scenario, unfortunately .

[Mamyalynne]

I think the whilst old cliches about cigs and cans of beer etc are relevant in the odd case they take away from a large number of genuine cases which may include poor/bad mangers of their budgets and also include many who are up their eyes in fuel debt for example - pieces like last night on TV give a picture that includes all.

[ummmm]

Dave - with all due respect you don't have kids so have no idea how much they cost.

Same as new parents...When I had my first I was completely ignorant to the cost.

[nailit]

//with all due respect you don't have kids so have no idea how much they cost.//
Certainly an eye opener when they come along ummm. Its not just food and clothing. And when they start school its ridiculous how much you need to spend....school uniforms, sportswear for school, trips etc.

[jackthehat]

I saw a brief interview/article with a single mum of 2 children, (aged about 9 and 10) who was also finding it difficult to make the adjustment to feeding her children during the holidays; she was having to rob Peter (her fuel obligations) to pay Paul (her grocery shopping).
But I *was* surprised that her Grocery shopping (her definition) rose from £40-£50 per school-week to £60-£70 per holiday week.

[nailit]

Jack, just curious but why do find it surprising that her grocery shopping bill went up during the holidays?

[youngmafbog]

I dont believe any of this tripe especially coming from the luvvies mentioned and it's crazy exaggerations like this that removes the focus from those really in need.

I'm with SD. Food parcels (with jail if it is sold) delivered from a supermarket. I'm sure one or two would love the contract.

[ummmm]

Jack...my sons eat loads. I'm amazed how much food they can eat. They eat their fruit and veg and I never had snacks in the house but they could polish off a dinner a grown man could eat.

Both boys were very active. If you let your kids out to play they are going to be extra hungry.

Nailit...very right. You don't think about those things when you have them. Luckily I wasn't poor for very long.