Why The School Holiday Food Grant Matters

At Vineyard Compassion we understand the consequences of poverty in our community, we know that putting food on the table is a challenge for increasing numbers of people, as prices at the checkout continue to rise. So, we are extremely worried by the recent decision by the Department of Education to cancel the School Holiday Food Grant for children entitled to free school meals. This decision is a major setback for efforts to address child poverty and is likely to have serious implications for some of the most vulnerable children in our society.

Free school meals are a vital lifeline for many families who are struggling to make ends meet, and the decision to cancel this grant during school holidays is simply wrong. This move is particularly worrying given the current economic climate, which has left many families facing increased financial hardship as a result of the ongoing cost of living crisis.

As Northern Ireland entered the pandemic, nearly one-in-five people lived in poverty, including over 100,000 children1. As an anti-poverty charity, we believe that all children have the right to a decent standard of living and access to the basic necessities of life, including food, clothing, and shelter. Through our work, we know only too well that this basic standard isn’t being met for too many people in the Causeway Coast and Glens area.

We are calling on the Department of Education to listen to the concerns of charities who work with those in need every day and take urgent action to address child poverty. This means providing adequate support for families who are struggling to make ends meet. The causes of poverty are complex, ranging from loss of employment, relationship breakdown to illness. However, no matter what the cause of poverty might be in a home, every child has a right to a regular food supply and we must work together to ensure no child goes hungry in our community.

The decision by the Department of Education to cancel the School Holiday Food Grant is a deeply concerning and regressive move that will have serious consequences for the health and wellbeing of some of the most vulnerable children in our society. We are calling on the Department to think again and reverse this decision and provide the support that these families desperately need.