A study shows there are more school-based foodbanks than regular ones

It found that around one in five schools across the country have one

Author: Tom HailePublished 21st Apr 2024

Researchers are warning many schools across Teesside and the rest of the North East are having to help families who can't afford meals for their children.

The University of Bristol's latest study has found around one in five across the country have a foodbank.

The East Durham Trust provides emergency food parcels and its chief executive Graham Easterlow said:

"I'm not surprised, given that the threshold for free school meals is so high and we've got lots of people who don't qualify for free school meals who are falling into crisis.

"I think it's inevitable that when we've got a cost of living crisis that is still raging and also the cost of food is still high that schools are having to put those food banks in place."

Graham continued:

"We do see a high number of families and households with children in them who are needing access to food parcels.

"We've had families with up to six children requiring food and when the cost of living is so high the cost of feeding that family is incredible.

"I think there really needs to be a thought about how we can help a much wider group of families who are struggling.

"It's very welcome that the government extended the household support fund for example but they've only extended that for six months. It will end in September just as we are heading into the autumn and winter."

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