Agenda item

Kid’s Company Plate Pledge presentation is attached.

6.1  The chair welcomed Laurence Guinness, Head of Campaigns and Research, at Kids Company to present on their campaign: ‘Plate Pledge -tackling childhood hunger, malnutrition and food insecurity’.  He gave a presentation, attached to the minutes.

6.2  Mr Guinness reported that Kids Company is feeding about 2000 children a week. He said that there has been an increasing number of children self referring; from around 30 new children a week in 2011, to 70 a week now.

6.3  He said explained that Kids Company have provided a meal for some time, largely as a means of engaging children by creating a family type atmosphere,  encouraging  relationships, and the development of social skills, however a survey of children revealed that around 85% of children actually relied on the meal to eat adequately. He said this had been a shock. Other research revealed that 1/3 do not have a bed and 18% do not have any underpants.

6.4  Mr Guinness reported that Olivier De Schutter, UN Special Rapporteur on the Right to Food, visited London last week. He would like to do a special report on UK, but is otherwise engaged at the moment. Olivier De Schuttermade this comment:

“62% of children in poverty living in families where at least one of the parents has a job is very worrying. It is really unacceptable.  We are on our way to a having a permanent underclass, people living in poor neighbourhoods that have no opportunities to choose different ways to feed themselves, fewer role models to follow and poverty transferred through generations.”

6.5  Mr Guinness went throughdata from surveys on hungry children .The Princess Trust/ Times Educational Supplement/ You Gov survey (600 teachers UK April 2012) found that almost half (48 per cent) regularly witness pupils coming into school suffering from malnutrition or showing signs that they haven’t eaten enough; the Guardian UK Teachers Survey  (600 Teachers, June 2012) said that  83% of  teachers saw evidence of pupil hunger and the  Opinion Matters survey for Kellogg's (500 UK teachers, August 2012) reported that four in five teachers (79%) report pupils are turning up for lessons hungry, with more than half (55%) saying the numbers have increased in the past year.

6.6  Lawrence said that he applauded  the council for the introduction of free school meals. He explained that Kids Company have lots of voluntary and corporate partners. The care that they provide for children helps them care for themselves. He reported that many children dread the school holidays, and commented that we need to address this. He reported that Kids Company provide food vouchers. He noted that children going hungry is happening in the 6th richest country in world.

6.7  Lawrence ended his presentation by making these recommendations:

• Commission urgently needed research to accurately measure the prevalence of food poverty amongst school-aged children and their parents/guardians.
• Create official channels in deprived schools where hungry children can report to designated staff members who can distribute basic food packs on an as-needed basis.
• Commission an economic cost/benefit analysis to better understand the social impact of food recycling and reducing food waste by re-distributing to the poorest members in society.
• Explore ways of utilising the dormant and latent resources presented in under-used school kitchens to create supper clubs in the most deprived areas. These could be sponsored by business and empower community members to collectively help themselves.
• Provide immediate emergency nutritional measures for schools facing the toughest challenges in educating disadvantaged pupils.
• Provide “Holiday Kitchens” where hungry children can get a free lunch or dinner during the school holidays.

6.8  The chair thanked Mr Guinness for his presentation and invited members to ask questions. Members asked if he thought that responsibilities for feeding children lies with parents and if some were being negligent? Lawrence acknowledged that there are a significant number of patents who make the wrong choices, however some parents do all the right things but still are unable to feed their children. He noted that while there is negligence, this is a pejorative term; sometimes parents are overwhelmed.

6.9  A member commented that the provision of free meals costs a lot of money. Mr Guinness responded that Kids Company provide a meal for £1 per day. He added that even if there is a cost we don't say we can’t do anything because of this. He said the first step is to get the data. He said that the Secretary of State for Education, Michael Grove, has not developed sufficient processes to measure food intake, and while the government is  pouring money into curriculum and resources these will not work for the children who are hungry.

6.10  Kid’s Company were asked if they are promoting growing your own, and he responded that they are ,  but added that this was not going to alleviate the core problem.

6.11  A member reported that she volunteers at Kids Company and commented that the report does not mention that lots of children have no recourse to public funds. She added that many of the children have social problems, for example some of their fathers are in prison. She added that many are going there for nurturing as much as food.

6.12  Kids Company was thanked for the recognition they had given to the value of Southwark’s free school meals. The member ask about the provision of supper in the evening . Mr Guinness mentioned a scheme in a school where this is linked to doing homework, and a promised to provide more details.

6.13  Mr Guinness was asked if he was lobbying government and working with social services. He explained that Kids Company’s resources were limited; and he is the main person working on this , however he is head of research and has other responsibilities including neuroscience research. He explained that Kidscape have been talking to Ian Duncan Smith, however the political lobbying is done in private as Kidscape as are taking the diplomatic route.

6.14  A member said he would like to see Kid Company working with sister organisations to tackle poverty. Mr Guinness said that Kidscape have also contacted other charities and the media about this issue. He said it was not just about public money and that there are solutions involving private business. A member commented that Southwark Council budgets are facing massive cuts and suggested focusing on the Deputy Prime Minister, Nick Clegg. Members also reported that they did feedback concerns to the cabinet lead for children and suggested that Kid Company did this too.

6.15  A member asked if they encouraged parents to do more in your programme and Mr Guinness responded that they are working with families who wanted to develop skills and are going into households and teaching parents  how to cook. A member commented that we are often told that food poverty is about skills rather than income. A member asked if there is a risk that some parent will not bother and Mr Guinness said there is, and many children are desperate. He explained that Kids Company focus is on the needs of children. He was then asked if there could be a cycle of deprivation and Mr Guinness explained that Kids Company have a programme that teachers children, teenagers and young people to gain cooking skills so they are prepared as adults. He added that children often have very limited food experiences so Kids Company  encourage children to experiment and try different food.

6.16  A member thanked Kids Company for their presentation and requested more information on the national statistic which was dropped. Members also commented that they would be interested in hearing more about the conversations that Kids Company are having with other stakeholders, and noted that there are lots the council can do in partnership. The chair thanked Mr Guinness for his presentation.

RESOLVED

The committee requested more information from Kids Company on:

• The Lancashire initiative that provides a supper and homework club.
• A national statistic that was dropped, which used to provide a nutritional measure.
• Details of any partnerships that Kids Company is developing in Southwark as part of their Plate Pledge programme.