There is a need for long-term strategy to support people
It is welcome that the Government has U-turned on its previous refusal to support those on free school meals through the holidays. No child should ever go hungry, and during a time such as now, with increasing pressure on finances and employment, support for those who need it is more important than ever.
This change is in no small part a result of the work done by Marcus Rashford, FareShare and the Trussell Trust in highlighting the situation many thousands of children find themselves in across the country.
Being hungry does not just affect children’s health but their education and ability to exercise too, having massive knock-on effects on their quality of life and on their future.
This is especially highlighted during the pandemic.
As unemployment and inequality rise, it is important that we do all we can to support our young people, whether that is in ensuring they are fed, to making sure they have the best education inschoolandathomewhennecessary, and chances at employment and careers.
As the Northern Health Science Alliance reported this week however, the North has been hit more by the pandemic than the south, widening regional inequalities that were stark in many ways pre-pandemic thanks to years of austerity.
The report found that the North was hit hardest both financially – in lost productivity due to a decrease in mental wellbeing and an increase in loneliness – and health wise, as the North continues to suffer from higher covid rates and higher mortality rates.
In combination with digital inequalities, this means children are losing more education than their more wealthy peers, with less access to digital connections and devices when forced to work from home, the issues mount to lessen the life chances of our young people. They deserve better.
It is disappointing that the delay to the government’s U-turn on expanded support for those that need it outside of school times caused this support to miss the half term, much like the delayed increase in lockdown restrictions that were first proposed in October by SAGE, but there are still plans in place to cut Universal Credit in April.
It is welcome that action has been taken, but if it is not part of a long-term strategy designed to support people, then this will become a yearly debate. It does not need to be. We simply must do better for our young people.