Pulling children out of poverty

摘要

Over four million children in the UK live in poverty (many from working households) but these figures predate the coronavirus pandemic. Analysis by the Institute for Public Policy Research estimates 200,000 more children will be pulled into poverty by the end of 2020 because of COVID-19. Many more families are facing financial strain due to shrinking incomes and job losses and are relying on food banks just to get by, and there is a real risk the situation will get worse when the furlough scheme comes to an end this month. Hearing Marcus Rashford speak from experience about the pervasive impact of hunger and poverty in recent weeks has been incredibly powerful, and it is right that the Government temporarily extended free school meals over the summer holidays, providing a lifeline for many families struggling to feed their children.