The school summer holidays can be a tricky time for many families, particularly those struggling financially. There are many reasons why a family has financial difficulties including the impact of the cost-of-living crisis, inability to work due to mental or physical health issues or struggling due to the two-child benefit cap. When a family faces financial pressure it impacts all areas of life, including not having access to or enough fresh, healthy and nutritious food, known as food poverty.
Recent figures released by The Department for Work and Pensions (March 2024) revealed that 4.3 million children live in relative poverty after housing costs (30% of all children in the UK). This is 100,000 more than last year, meaning that the need for practical and financial support is greater than ever. With these figures in mind and our knowledge of the needs of the families we work with our staff team constantly seek new and innovative ways to enhance the practical help and support we can provide and teamed with Feed London to help.
Feed London is a food poverty which charity who provides food boxes in the school holidays with fresh healthy seasonal ingredients, recipe cards and supermarket vouchers. At the end of the summer term Welcare was gifted 20 of these fantastic boxes to distribute to families in need in south London. The boxes were earmarked for delivery on the hottest days of the year but despite the heat and frustrating driving conditions our dedicated staff team worked together to get all the boxes safely delivered to grateful families – a big thank you to all our staff who organised the logistics and helped on the day.
It has been a huge success, and not only have we been able to provide our families with delicious and healthy meals but have given them the ability to create wonderful memories of cooking and eating together over the holidays, all of which would not have been possible without Feed London’s help. Thank you so much Feed London for your work and for partnering with us to help our south London families. The feedback has been fantastic to receive.
A parent who received a box: ‘Thank you so much for the food box and voucher, we have already been putting bits of the food to good use and our son has been loving it.’
A teacher from a school that we have been working in: ‘Just to say that all the recipients were extremely grateful. Thank you for thinking of us.’
If you would like to support the work of Welcare and help us make a difference to the lives of even more children and families, please consider donating.
