East Lancashire schools fight to stop children going hungry

7:00pm Tuesday 18th December 2012 in News Photograph of the Author By Lisa Woodhouse, Assistant picture editor

Many youngsters are believed to go hungry at school Many youngsters are believed to go hungry at school

SCHOOLS in East Lancashire are doing all they can to stop pupils living in poverty from going hungry.

A shocking survey said two thirds of UK teachers said staff provided pupils with food or money if they come into school hungry, according to a Children’s Society report, carried out in partnership with the National Union of Teachers (NUT) and Association of Teachers and Lecturers (ATL).

But Lancashire County Council and Blackburn with Darwen Council said they had a strong uptake in free school meals, with around 90 per cent of eligible children taking advantage of the benefit.

The ‘Food for Thought’ survey shows nearly three-quarters of teachers reported seeing children coming to school with no lunch and no means to pay for one.

But union bosses said a school dinner could be the child’s only hot meal of the day. Simon Jones, national executive member for the National union of Teachers (NUT), said: “East Lancashire is one of the most deprived areas in the country and some families find it difficult to provide healthy but cheap food for their children at home.

“I have heard anecdotal evidence of teachers providing pupils with food, and I have done it myself as a teacher, and the problem is getting worse.

“For some, this may be the child’s only hot meal of the day. The children are the real casualties of the government’s austerity measures which are hitting the poorest families the hardest.”

The Society’s separate Fair and Square report found that 300,000 of the 1.3 million children registered for free school meals are not taking advantage of them — mainly due to the stigma attached.

County Councillor Susie Charles, cabinet member for children and schools, said: "Good, regular nutrition is essential if children are to concentrate on their lessons and enjoy school life, and in Lancashire we do everything we can to help.

“Our catering service provides reasonably priced, healthy and appetising school meals that meet nutritional standards and we provide breakfast clubs where these are required by individual schools.

"We are always particularly keen to reach out to parents who are eligible for free school meals for their children and we do this in a number of ways including liaising with our district council partners and school leaders.

“Free school meals have the double benefit of not only providing a child with a nutritious two course lunch but also bringing in additional funding for their school via the Pupil Premium.”

The Children’s society recommends that all children in poverty should get free school meals, and that a cashless system should be implemented to de-stigmatise the benefit.

Comments (14)

7:24pm Tue 18 Dec 12

shytalk says...

If we didn't have a tory government that only looks after its own and gives billions away in foreign aid to third world dictactors to build expensive houses with this situation wouldn't exist.
If we didn't have a tory government that only looks after its own and gives billions away in foreign aid to third world dictactors to build expensive houses with this situation wouldn't exist. shytalk

7:51pm Tue 18 Dec 12

gutterpress says...

Any child coming to school without lunch or the means to buy it should be reported to Social Services. They should then go round to the parents to see if they have:- mobile phones, Sky tv, cigarettes and lager in the fridge. No such thing as child poverty in this country, just feckless incompetent parents.
Any child coming to school without lunch or the means to buy it should be reported to Social Services. They should then go round to the parents to see if they have:- mobile phones, Sky tv, cigarettes and lager in the fridge. No such thing as child poverty in this country, just feckless incompetent parents. gutterpress

7:57pm Tue 18 Dec 12

Good call says...

gutterpress wrote:
Any child coming to school without lunch or the means to buy it should be reported to Social Services. They should then go round to the parents to see if they have:- mobile phones, Sky tv, cigarettes and lager in the fridge. No such thing as child poverty in this country, just feckless incompetent parents.
Yes of course, everything is fine, there is work if you want it and there is no child poverty.The reality is that child poverty is UP and the number of people going for food handouts is UP.With the way things are at the moment it seems wise to start buying bit of extra food and other supplies each time you do your shopping because all it takes is for the economy to nosedive and you will be in a food line needing handouts.
[quote][p][bold]gutterpress[/bold] wrote: Any child coming to school without lunch or the means to buy it should be reported to Social Services. They should then go round to the parents to see if they have:- mobile phones, Sky tv, cigarettes and lager in the fridge. No such thing as child poverty in this country, just feckless incompetent parents.[/p][/quote]Yes of course, everything is fine, there is work if you want it and there is no child poverty.The reality is that child poverty is UP and the number of people going for food handouts is UP.With the way things are at the moment it seems wise to start buying bit of extra food and other supplies each time you do your shopping because all it takes is for the economy to nosedive and you will be in a food line needing handouts. Good call

8:10pm Tue 18 Dec 12

mys says...

gutterpress wrote:
Any child coming to school without lunch or the means to buy it should be reported to Social Services. They should then go round to the parents to see if they have:- mobile phones, Sky tv, cigarettes and lager in the fridge. No such thing as child poverty in this country, just feckless incompetent parents.
Well said
[quote][p][bold]gutterpress[/bold] wrote: Any child coming to school without lunch or the means to buy it should be reported to Social Services. They should then go round to the parents to see if they have:- mobile phones, Sky tv, cigarettes and lager in the fridge. No such thing as child poverty in this country, just feckless incompetent parents.[/p][/quote]Well said mys

8:21pm Tue 18 Dec 12

Sister Wendy says...

I work 12hrs a day.. 5 days a week plus minimum of 6 hours at the weekend... I cannot afford to buy cigarettes, kit my kids out in the latest trainers/clothing or subscribe to Sky movies etc etc!
When there are families who do not work, earning (sorry - obtaining) more money than me, and yet are unable to feed their kids, but are able to find money to buy the latest luxuries, it's unfair!
If they smoke, they should be made to give up smoking and put the money saved towards feeding their kids! Why can't they make cuts...like the average worker has had to?
I work 12hrs a day.. 5 days a week plus minimum of 6 hours at the weekend... I cannot afford to buy cigarettes, kit my kids out in the latest trainers/clothing or subscribe to Sky movies etc etc! When there are families who do not work, earning (sorry - obtaining) more money than me, and yet are unable to feed their kids, but are able to find money to buy the latest luxuries, it's unfair! If they smoke, they should be made to give up smoking and put the money saved towards feeding their kids! Why can't they make cuts...like the average worker has had to? Sister Wendy

8:36pm Tue 18 Dec 12

Good call says...

Sister Wendy wrote:
I work 12hrs a day.. 5 days a week plus minimum of 6 hours at the weekend... I cannot afford to buy cigarettes, kit my kids out in the latest trainers/clothing or subscribe to Sky movies etc etc!
When there are families who do not work, earning (sorry - obtaining) more money than me, and yet are unable to feed their kids, but are able to find money to buy the latest luxuries, it's unfair!
If they smoke, they should be made to give up smoking and put the money saved towards feeding their kids! Why can't they make cuts...like the average worker has had to?
You keep yourself distracted with the propaganda about benefit scroungers rather than the parasitic banksters who have robbed everything.
[quote][p][bold]Sister Wendy[/bold] wrote: I work 12hrs a day.. 5 days a week plus minimum of 6 hours at the weekend... I cannot afford to buy cigarettes, kit my kids out in the latest trainers/clothing or subscribe to Sky movies etc etc! When there are families who do not work, earning (sorry - obtaining) more money than me, and yet are unable to feed their kids, but are able to find money to buy the latest luxuries, it's unfair! If they smoke, they should be made to give up smoking and put the money saved towards feeding their kids! Why can't they make cuts...like the average worker has had to?[/p][/quote]You keep yourself distracted with the propaganda about benefit scroungers rather than the parasitic banksters who have robbed everything. Good call

9:34pm Tue 18 Dec 12

Sister Wendy says...

Maybe an 'o' too many? You must be a saint...???
I'll keep on being distracted....in between working and paying my taxes etc...whilst those who are fit to work keep signing on!
As Jim would say.."Propaganda my arse!"
I see those 'scroungers' with my own eyes everyday...and hear them speaking into their android phones, whilst ordering their takeaways!!!
Maybe an 'o' too many? You must be a saint...??? I'll keep on being distracted....in between working and paying my taxes etc...whilst those who are fit to work keep signing on! As Jim would say.."Propaganda my arse!" I see those 'scroungers' with my own eyes everyday...and hear them speaking into their android phones, whilst ordering their takeaways!!! Sister Wendy

9:35pm Tue 18 Dec 12

Info-warrior says...

This is only the begining school children going hungry...How long have I been advising the people to stock up on long shelf life foods only for the government to come along and ask them to feed the needy with whatever saving they may have done. And they have been very generous like the obedient people they kindly are. Taxes are paid for a society to have a life without food shortages and the sheeple have at some point got to wake up to that fact. When they have recovered and re-disributed all the long shelf life foods watch the prices spike up beyond the ability for some to pay for their own food let alone supplying the needy.

Massive losses in world food crops due to unusually hot weather across America and many other places around the world. Wheat, Grain, Soya Oats without enough of these four basics there is nothing else to eat.Nothing..

The globalists rape children and treat the rest of us like organisms to be experimented on with all the toxins they had to scraps of cancerous food they toss out. .

Somebody said to me the other day that they're bored all the time and depressed..how can anybody be bored jeez we're living in a real time nightmare a matrix with demonic players controlling the game a real life movie with twists and turns every minute taking us from one direction to the other but never moving forward just more suffering dealt out by the elite globalists dictators untill they reduce the world population by 90%. Being a multi-billionaire does'nt get you in the 10% either so the middle class sheeple who think they're above all this tyranny have a shock coming to them over the next few months and years if the world lasts that long riots will spread across the world in desperation for food...? Billions will die from starvation and disease...
This is only the begining school children going hungry...How long have I been advising the people to stock up on long shelf life foods only for the government to come along and ask them to feed the needy with whatever saving they may have done. And they have been very generous like the obedient people they kindly are. Taxes are paid for a society to have a life without food shortages and the sheeple have at some point got to wake up to that fact. When they have recovered and re-disributed all the long shelf life foods watch the prices spike up beyond the ability for some to pay for their own food let alone supplying the needy. Massive losses in world food crops due to unusually hot weather across America and many other places around the world. Wheat, Grain, Soya Oats without enough of these four basics there is nothing else to eat.Nothing.. The globalists rape children and treat the rest of us like organisms to be experimented on with all the toxins they had to scraps of cancerous food they toss out. . Somebody said to me the other day that they're bored all the time and depressed..how can anybody be bored jeez we're living in a real time nightmare a matrix with demonic players controlling the game a real life movie with twists and turns every minute taking us from one direction to the other but never moving forward just more suffering dealt out by the elite globalists dictators untill they reduce the world population by 90%. Being a multi-billionaire does'nt get you in the 10% either so the middle class sheeple who think they're above all this tyranny have a shock coming to them over the next few months and years if the world lasts that long riots will spread across the world in desperation for food...? Billions will die from starvation and disease... Info-warrior

9:36pm Tue 18 Dec 12

Sister Wendy says...

Hence..no money left to pay for breakfast!
Hence..no money left to pay for breakfast! Sister Wendy

10:17pm Tue 18 Dec 12

2 for 5p says...

Gutterpress is exactly right.
Be warned if i see any kid going without food i will report there parents to social services for child neglect.
Gutterpress is exactly right. Be warned if i see any kid going without food i will report there parents to social services for child neglect. 2 for 5p

10:53pm Tue 18 Dec 12

Good call says...

2 for 5p wrote:
Gutterpress is exactly right.
Be warned if i see any kid going without food i will report there parents to social services for child neglect.
You think they should have the SS sent round and be "looked after" by the "care" system where no child abuse takes place at all .How about it isn't the parents fault that they can't afford to feed their kids because the banksters have crashed the economy.But you be a good snoop and "grass someone up" for something they might not be able to help."Like I said before, people should start buying a few extra supplies each time they go to the shop.
[quote][p][bold]2 for 5p[/bold] wrote: Gutterpress is exactly right. Be warned if i see any kid going without food i will report there parents to social services for child neglect.[/p][/quote]You think they should have the SS sent round and be "looked after" by the "care" system where no child abuse takes place at all .How about it isn't the parents fault that they can't afford to feed their kids because the banksters have crashed the economy.But you be a good snoop and "grass someone up" for something they might not be able to help."Like I said before, people should start buying a few extra supplies each time they go to the shop. Good call

6:51am Wed 19 Dec 12

Excluded again says...

Sister Wendy wrote:
I work 12hrs a day.. 5 days a week plus minimum of 6 hours at the weekend... I cannot afford to buy cigarettes, kit my kids out in the latest trainers/clothing or subscribe to Sky movies etc etc!
When there are families who do not work, earning (sorry - obtaining) more money than me, and yet are unable to feed their kids, but are able to find money to buy the latest luxuries, it's unfair!
If they smoke, they should be made to give up smoking and put the money saved towards feeding their kids! Why can't they make cuts...like the average worker has had to?
In these circumstances you should be in receipt of benefits. - housing benefit, working families tax cresits and the like.

Like around 70% of working age people on benefits you are working hard - but the benefits supplement your low wage. It is the benefits for the 'working poor' which the government is cutting furthest. How this rewards work is beyond me.
[quote][p][bold]Sister Wendy[/bold] wrote: I work 12hrs a day.. 5 days a week plus minimum of 6 hours at the weekend... I cannot afford to buy cigarettes, kit my kids out in the latest trainers/clothing or subscribe to Sky movies etc etc! When there are families who do not work, earning (sorry - obtaining) more money than me, and yet are unable to feed their kids, but are able to find money to buy the latest luxuries, it's unfair! If they smoke, they should be made to give up smoking and put the money saved towards feeding their kids! Why can't they make cuts...like the average worker has had to?[/p][/quote]In these circumstances you should be in receipt of benefits. - housing benefit, working families tax cresits and the like. Like around 70% of working age people on benefits you are working hard - but the benefits supplement your low wage. It is the benefits for the 'working poor' which the government is cutting furthest. How this rewards work is beyond me. Excluded again

7:59am Wed 19 Dec 12

kate11 says...

I know someone who works in benefits and they regularly have people coming in who say they cannot manage and need more money when they are receiving over £30,000 in benefits!!! This is not an isolated case.. There are many receiving over this amount but I am told they have no idea about budgeting and have no idea they receive so much!!! Madness!!!
I know someone who works in benefits and they regularly have people coming in who say they cannot manage and need more money when they are receiving over £30,000 in benefits!!! This is not an isolated case.. There are many receiving over this amount but I am told they have no idea about budgeting and have no idea they receive so much!!! Madness!!! kate11

9:08am Wed 19 Dec 12

2 for 5p says...

Kids going hungry,
Why why why do we still give our gutter scum money when its obvious it should be food stamps.
Kids going hungry, Why why why do we still give our gutter scum money when its obvious it should be food stamps. 2 for 5p

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