For many families, the summer holidays mean more than just eight weeks away from school. It can also mean a sharp rise in food costs.
Susan Lilley, a single mother of two who is training to become a classroom assistant, said the weekly shop has become one of her biggest financial worries.
During the Covid-19 pandemic, the families of 90,000 children eligible for free school meals received £27 per child each fortnight during school holidays.
They were axed by the Department of Education (DE) in March 2023 due to a lack of money, but a new bill introduced at Stormont could see holiday payments reinstated.
The then Permanent Secretary in Dr Mark Browne said axing the scheme was the most difficult decision he had to make.
Lilley, who received the grant during covid, said the support made a real difference.
Without it, she said she sometimes has to choose a less healthy, processed option for her children because it’s often cheaper than fresh foods.
“You want to have everything they need, everything that’s nutritious for them, but it’s impossible trying to get the quality of food, especially food and veg and protein, with the prices.
“My little girl would like strawberries and blackberries, but it’s a fortune, I was in this morning and I had to ask her to pick something else,” she continued.
“I can go and buy a 35p donut versus a £4.50 box of strawberries, but it won’t fill her the same, won’t give her the brain power for school. It will actually damage her more.”
She believes that politicians think people “will just manage”, but that “people aren’t managing”.
“Put your money where your mouth is. Children are our future. If they are being limited now how are they going to be the best they can be, to be productive and grow in to full, whole human beings and adults.”
“Nutrition affects them growing up, it can be a barrier to education.
“It’s important that everyone has access to healthy food, especially children.”
The new bill has been introduced in the assembly by Sinn Féin assembly member Danny Baker.
If it is passed, it would see the return of holiday food payments at an estimated annual cost of about £20m.
Children are eligible for free school meals if their family’s household income is below £15,390 a year.
Although UK food inflation has slowed, prices are continuing to rise, just at a slower rate.
Lauren Entwhistle, who also has two children, has experienced those financial pressures herself.
After struggling with postnatal depression and managing her finances, she turned to Atlas Women’s Centre in Lisburn for support.
Part of a network of women’s centre across Northern Ireland, she said the Atlas Women’s Centre helped put her back together.
Now she works there helping other women.
She said the majority of women who turn to the centre for support are struggling financially.
“I’ve been through it myself,” she said. “Worrying about that every day affects your mental health.
“It’s the hub of everything, that’s why there is a big issue with mental health in this country. There aren’t enough resources to help everyone.
“A lot of the mums here would tell you even if they were getting an extra fiver a week, they would be grateful for anything.”
Entwhistle said many women carefully count every penny when shopping.
“It would be nice if politicians came and spoke to women, and realised how hard they have it.
“Every time these women go to the shop they have to think, about their budget, they are counting pennies.
“I know myself, there is a constant feeling of guilt, like we’re not doing enough.”
Entwhistle encouraged women who were struggling to seek help through local women’s centres who can connect women with other services.
“All you need to do is come through the door.
“Some people might not like the thought of going to the food bank, unfortunately there is a bit of shame around it.”
Siobhan Harding, from the Women’s Support Network, said research she has carried out through women’s centres across Northern Ireland showed women often bore the burden of managing household finances.
“Women act as the shock absorbers of poverty in the home.
“They will go without the food, heat and clothes to make sure children and family members have what they need.”
She said that summer in particular brings “a range of more pressures”.
“Kids are home more, constantly at the fridge door. Mum’s are under pressure to find activities, clubs and summer schemes.
“Then you have uniforms to buy. There are so many additional costs.
“There is very limited help available for people. There’s a strong body of evidence to say that there is a need for this new holiday hunger bill”.
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