Schools ‘fourth emergency service’ for families in need

Teachers are stepping up to provide a safety net for families who are unable to afford food as the cost of living crisis deepens.

One headteacher described how schools have become the “fourth emergency service” for those in need as the practice of supplying essential items for pupils facing food poverty has become “normalised and embedded” across the country.

A study conducted by researchers at the University of Bristol exposed an expanding number of school food banks, pantries and other organised projects to feed families amid spiralling costs of food and energy, welfare cutbacks and entrenched poverty.

A primary school pupil cited in the research wrote a letter appealing to their school, stating: “We haven’t got any gas. We haven’t got any food for tonight, please can you help?”

Dr William Baker, lead author and senior lecturer at the university’s School of Education, said school staff are seeing the consequences of food poverty every day, prompting them to act.

“After years of austerity and cutbacks, rocketing food prices means millions of parents can’t afford to feed their kids or heat their homes,” said Baker.

“It’s striking and concerning how normalised and embedded the food aid had become within schools in England.”

Some schools are working with food waste charities such as FareShare to provide essential supplies for families – photo: FareShare South West

The research started in Bristol but spread nationwide when it became clear how widespread the issue is. A total of 25 schools – primary and secondary – in cities, towns and rural locations were involved in the study.

Most schools reported supporting 15-20 families on a regular basis, while several larger secondary schools in deprived areas were supporting more than 40 families a week, with the food sourced via partnerships with major food waste charities and supermarkets.

Interviews with staff involved in this work uncovered how many families are falling through cracks in the welfare system, for example those on Universal Credit who may not quite qualify for free school meal provision.

A support worker said: “It’s those on the borderline. They can’t get free school meals, because they’re earning £10 above the threshold. With everything else that is going to happen, they’re not going to be able to manage.”

Researchers also found the scale of need extends beyond food, with teachers stepping in to provide clothes, shoes and cleaning products.

This body of qualitative evidence presented in the newly-published paper, Schools and food charity in England, backs up recent research by The Food Foundation, which found that a quarter of all households with children experience food insecurity.

Baker added: “Levels of food insecurity in the UK are deeply concerning and create major challenges for families and schools. No child or family should go hungry or worry about where their next meal is coming from.

“Schools and food charity can’t solve this problem; it requires a more coordinated and extensive response from government that tackles destitution and poverty, particularly among families with children.”

Main photo: University of Bristol 

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• The Bristol gardeners working to create system change 
• Bristol baby bank appoints first CEO as demand soars 

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