On 21st October, the Government voted down a motion that would have provided 1.4 million disadvantaged children across the country with food vouchers during the school holidays.

Following a campaign by Marcus Rashford, the Government agreed to fund school meals over the summer holidays. However, no provision has been made for half term starting next week, or for the Christmas or Easter holidays.

We therefore call on Brighton and Hove City Council to step in and ensure no child goes hungry in the city, and to guarantee every there is funding for free school meals over half term, Christmas and Easter..

Research shows there are around 13,000 children living in low-income families in Brighton and Hove in 2018-19. This means almost a third of all those aged 16 and under are living in poverty. With the economic impact of the pandemic, more and more families are reliant on free school meals while they struggle to make ends meet.

Every child in the city deserves the best start in life, that means ensuring no child goes hungry during the holidays.