Holiday hunger

For many families the six weeks holidays are a time to look forward to where children can relax, enjoy day trips and holidays abroad or try different holiday clubs.

But for many the shocking reality is that without the free hot meals provided in school, their children are going hungry as they simply cannot afford to put food on the table.

The devastating impact of benefit cuts means families are having to rely on charity funded holiday clubs to feed their children.

In Scotland where the summer holidays began in June some parents have spent five weeks struggling to feed their children the extra meal they aren’t getting at school.

Jamie Caldwell, Unite Community co-ordinator for Scotland deals with many families struggling to make ends meet.

“It’s heart-breaking but I see this far too often,” says Jamie.

“Benefit sanctions play a massive role in this problem.”

One single mum who came to Jamie for help has three young children and had her benefits sanctioned for three months because she was late for an appointment at the job centre. She was dropping her children to school.

When your benefit is sanctioned, it is not paid or is paid at a reduced rate for a fixed period of time.

Desperate and demoralised

 

“When people come to me they are often desperate and demoralised,” said Jamie.

“We support them by helping them access their local foodbank and signposting them to the appeal process against benefit sanctions,” he added.

In the UK over two million people have had their money stopped in the last two years.

Often this will mean parents sacrifice their own meals to make sure their children can eat.

Kids cannot have friends over to play as the prospect of having to feed any extra mouths is too overwhelming.

Appealing a sanction can be a lengthy process and in this case the member went three weeks with no benefits.

“We probably don’t even know the full extent of the problem as people don’t want to speak out,” said Jamie.

“There is a stigma attached to benefits and sadly, people would rather take out payday loans then admit that they need help,” he added.

Although there is only one week left of the summer holidays in Scotland, parents will already be focussed on how they will manage throughout half-term.

There are about 1.7m children in the UK who are eligible for free school meals and who are possibly going without a daily meal during the summer holidays.

‘Holiday hunger’ as it has become known is widespread. A study by cereal giant Kellogg’s of low and middle income parents found that 62 per cent on less than £25,000 a year can’t always afford food in the holidays.

For parents with incomes of less than ÂŁ15,000 the figure rose to 72 per cent.

 

Isolation

Hunger isn’t the only problem parents face during the holidays either. Isolation is also experienced by parents who can’t afford to take their children out during the holidays and end up stuck at home with their children.

Back in Scotland, North Ayrshire Council has been working to tackle the problem. It has opened 10 primary schools most days during the holidays. Children from 24 schools are eligible to attend them.

The scheme, which is open to all children, offers activities but primarily children entitled to free school meals during term time will get a hot meal free of charge at the club too.

Cuts to tax credits means that those in work are struggling just as much too.

“People are being paid poverty wages and are in insecure work or on zero hour contracts,” said Jamie.

“The government claim that ‘you’re better off in work’ but in fact that isn’t necessarily true,” he added.

Factor in childcare and travel costs and for many families it isn’t cost effective for both parents to work.

“Zero hours contracts are sold as flexible for working parents, when in fact the only people they’re flexible for are the employer and what work they decide to offer you,” added Jamie.

While holiday clubs are great at tackling holiday hunger the cause needs treating rather than the effect.

“The government must stop the benefit sanctions if we really want to tackle holiday hunger,” said Jamie.

“Benefits need to be secure so that claimants can plan. No one should be living in fear and isolation and no one should be going hungry,” he added.

Unite’s Fight for 5 campaign is aimed at securing decent work for all. You can see the five key points and sign the pledge here

You can also sign the petition to stop the benefit sanctions petition