Supporting food justice for all

In this section

According to the Child Poverty Action Group there were approximately 4.2 million children living in poverty before the pandemic and this number is expected to rise.

As a community retailer we have seen the impact of the coronavirus and the increase in demand on our local foodbanks and this is why this is an important issue to us.

As part of our on-going commitment we have joined the Marcus Rashford Child Food Poverty Taskforce and in the absence of government action we are currently increasing the value of the Healthy Start vouchers redeemed in our stores and funding the difference ourselves until the policy changes. We have also written to local MPs in the region, encouraging them to call on the Government to act. You can find out more below.

Working together to combat food poverty

We're committed to combating food poverty in our region and that's why we're proud to be a part of the Child Food Poverty Taskforce. 

Championed by England Footballer, Marcus Rashford, the taskforce is backed by a number of retailers and food manufacturers. The objective of this group is to see the Government provide sufficient funds to implement three recommendations:

  1. Expand free school meals to every child from a household on Universal Credit, to reach an additional 1.5million children aged 7-16
     
  2. Expand holiday food and activities to support all children receiving free school meals, to reach an additional 1.1million children
     
  3. Increase the value of Healthy Start vouchers from £3.10 to £4.25 per week and expand to all those on Universal Credit or equivalent, reaching an additional 290,000 children under the age of four, as well as pregnant women. 

Since the 21 September 2020, we have increased the value of Healthy Start vouchers redeemed in our stores, by funding the additional £1.15 ourselves, taking the value of the voucher from £3.10 to £4.25 for all. 

Marcus Rashford: 

Little steps make huge differences to so many in need. Proud to see another Task Force member take it upon themselves to cover some of the deficit felt by families across the UK.

What are Healthy Start vouchers?

Healthy Start vouchers are a Government public health scheme to help those who are pregnant or that have children under four years old, to buy basic nutritional food. 

The vouchers are designed to be spent with local retailers, and can be used to purchase;

🐄 Plain cow's milk - whole, semi-skimmed or skimmed. It can be pasteurised, sterilised, long life or UHT

🍏 Plain fresh or frozen fruit and veg (fruit and vegetables with no added ingredients, whole or chopped, packaged or loose

🍼 Infant formula milk that says it can be used from birth and is based on cow's milk.

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