Ministers have announced a Marcus Rashford-inspired plan to provide food to vulnerable children during school holidays, amid fears they could fall victim to a frantic money-saving drive across Whitehall. The plan, which offers activities and events, will be maintained for another year.
More than a million people have signed a petition calling for the Manchester United star's plans after a massive grassroots campaign in 2020.
The previous government eventually launched the £200m-a-year Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) programme, following pressure from Keir Starmer and his shadow cabinet.
Concerns about its future have grown in recent weeks. The funding was due to expire this spring, but local authorities have not been told by the government its future. Surgeon Generals are among those sounding the alarm, warning that removing the program could lead to: Poverty increases, school attendance suffers and child nutrition suffers.
Among those who raised concerns was Henry Dimbleby, founder of Leon Restaurants, who oversaw the previous government's National Food Strategy. The strategy also included a call for a national holiday program. he said this observer He said withdrawing it would have been a “political miscalculation to make the dispute over winter fuel payments look like a storm in a teacup”.
However, after that, observerIn response to questions about the program, the Ministry of Education said the program will be extended for another year. “Existing holiday activities and meal offerings are invaluable in ensuring disadvantaged children have hot meals and social activities over the holidays,” the spokesperson said.
“This program has had a huge impact on hundreds of children, which is why we are investing over £200m into next year to ensure children have the best possible life chances. We guarantee access to quality holiday clubs and meals.
The move comes as Chancellor Rachel Reeves seeks to tighten the budget and hopes that all departments in Whitehall will be forced to make savings in the upcoming spending review. Spending limits have been set for next year, but ministers complain that it is becoming harder to make long-term decisions on any program until June's crucial public spending review.
Rashford, whose mother Melanie spent her childhood in Wythenshawe, Manchester, worked multiple jobs to support her family, has gained national recognition for campaigning for school holiday provisions during the pandemic. obtained. He said the program was necessary because “I don't want any child to go through what I went through, and I don't want any parent to go through what my mother went through.”
Activities planned under this plan include a variety of sports, as well as crafts, photography, cooking, coding, drama, and more. A hot lunch was included, but some providers chose to serve breakfast or dinner instead. Local concerns about the future of the project have been growing for weeks. A letter from Southwark City Council to youth service providers, reported on the London Centric website, said: “There is no direction from the central government at this time.” That more money will be available.
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Arooj Shah, Labor leader at Oldham Metropolitan Borough Council and chair of the local authority association's children and young people committee, said the program had already proven to be highly effective and said: He said the program has successfully reached “students who have continued to refuse to attend school or who are at risk of absenteeism.”
“The council cannot afford to replace this fund if it is discontinued, without sufficient time to plan ahead for future funding and the impact this will have on the most vulnerable children in our community. “We are deeply concerned about the risk of losing experienced staff,” she said. “Extending this funding for at least another year will provide immediate certainty and protect valuable support and expertise.”
The Food Foundation's Shona Gowdy said the program was “one of the major successes of Marcus Rashford's campaign to end child food poverty” and was a lifeline for some of the UK's poorest families. He said that it has become. “As well as providing vital nutrition, the scheme provides enrichment activities to combat learning decline and childcare to support hard-working parents who cannot afford to take time off from work.” she said.