We don’t want any child to go hungry this half term. Help is available in the city for those in need.
The national campaign against food poverty led by Marcus Rashford has highlighted the harsh reality faced by families reliant of Free School Meals during the school holidays.
This year, the pandemic has added to the pressure on families to manage over the school breaks. Struggling to buy food is sadly increasingly common and could happen to anyone.
If your family needs support, please contact one of the services or organisations listed below for help. You will be treated with respect and dignity.
Families who are known to be vulnerable are offered support through schools and social work services.
Councillor Phélim Mac Cafferty, leader of the council, said: “It is a disgrace that in 2020 and in the fifth richest country on the planet, child hunger exists.
“We are doing everything we can to help to provide essential supplies for families who are struggling to feed their children.
“The city council’s hub will be working throughout the half term from 10am to 4.30pm, Monday to Friday of next week. This will be helping families needing emergency help with food, energy bills and other essentials.
“We are working with dedicated partners, especially the Food Partnership, to make food parcel deliveries to families, which is particularly needed given the constraints of the Covid-19 pandemic on normal services.
“We can be deeply thankful to all those in our city, including fantastic community organisations, who are working year round to provide food to those in need. The council has provided funding to these services, including throughout the pandemic.
“If you need support, please get in touch with one of the teams. We are here to help if we can.”
Brighton & Hove Food Partnership
Brighton & Hove Food Partnership has a wide range of information about local food banks and hubs that are running in local neighbourhoods across the city.
B&H Food Partnership 01273 234810 or info@bhfood.org.uk
Community Hub
The council’s community hub can help organise emergency food for families. This is organised through the Brighton & Hove Food Partnership.
One of the organisations that works through the community hub is the Children’s Centre Food Bank which supports families where at least one child is aged 0 to 4 years old.
The community hub also provides support with energy bills and other essentials.
You can contact the community hub and emergency referral service through our website or you can call 01273 293117 and select option 2 if you can’t get online. The Community Hub operates Monday to Friday from 10am to 4.30pm.
Chomp
Chomp is a Brighton-based school holiday lunch club providing nutritional food and fun for families feeling the financial pressure during the school holidays. This half term, Chomp is sending out electronic food vouchers worth £15 each to around 200 families they work with in the city. Donations can be made online to support Chomp’s work