Survey Reveals Growing Food Insecurity Among UK Parents
Almost half of parents say feeding their children is harder than five years ago, shock survey reveals
Image: The Independent
A recent survey by the Social Market Foundation indicates that nearly half of UK parents find it increasingly difficult to feed their children, with 9% reporting their children often lack sufficient food. The report calls for urgent government action to address child hunger and poverty, highlighting the need for better food support policies.
- 0144% of the 17 million parents in the UK report finding it harder to feed their children than five years ago.
- 029% of parents say their children are often or always unable to eat enough due to food shortages.
- 03The UK government’s Child Poverty Strategy aims to lift over half a million children out of poverty through various measures, including ending the two-child benefit cap.
- 0410% of parents reported being unable to provide balanced meals for their children.
- 05The Social Market Foundation recommends expanding food support policies, including free school meal provisions.
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A survey conducted by the Social Market Foundation (SMF) reveals that nearly 44% of parents in the UK are struggling more to feed their children compared to five years ago. The survey, which included responses from 2,500 parents, found that 9% report their children often lack sufficient food. The SMF emphasizes the need for urgent government action to combat child hunger, particularly as around 4 million children currently live in poverty. The government's recently launched Child Poverty Strategy includes measures such as ending the two-child benefit cap, which is expected to lift 450,000 children out of poverty. However, projections indicate that 4.2 million children will still be in relative low income by the end of the parliamentary term. The SMF suggests enhancing food support policies, like strengthening free school meals and implementing tax incentives for food donations. Jake Shepherd, a Senior Researcher at SMF, stresses that increasing household incomes is crucial to reducing food insecurity among families.
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The rising food insecurity among parents could lead to increased child poverty rates and affect children's health and education.
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