A Belfast councillor is urging the Northern Ireland Executive to reinstate holiday hunger payments as families face food insecurity during school breaks. The payments, which provided £27 per child every two weeks during holidays, were discontinued in March 2023 due to budgetary constraints. Foodstock founder Paul Doherty, who is also a city councillor, highlights the struggles of parents and calls for both the restoration of holiday hunger payments and an anti-poverty strategy.
A Belfast councillor has called for the return of holiday hunger payments as many families are going without food during school breaks.
The scheme provided £27 per child every two weeks during school holidays including Christmas, Easter, mid term, and the summer break. The Department of Education stopped the scheme due to budgetary pressures.Read more: Calls for reform as many NI kids in poverty not eligible for free school meals Mr Doherty, who is also a Belfast City councillor for West Belfast, is calling on the Executive to restore holiday hunger payments and introduce an anti-poverty strategy to ensure that parents are supported during school holidays.
“There is immense pressure on parents when it comes to keeping up with meals and the sad reality is that we are hearing of parents going without just to ensure that their children do not go hungry.
HOLIDAY HUNGER POVERTY NORTHERN IRELAND SCHOOL MEALS ANTI-POVERTY STRATEGY
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