The government is to spend about £400m to support poor children and their families in England, following a campaign by footballer Marcus Rashford.
A winter grant scheme, to be run by councils, will provide support with food and bills, and a holiday food and activities programme is to be expanded.
Rashford said it would improve the lives of nearly 1.7 million children.
The move represents a significant climbdown for the government, which had argued Universal Credit was enough.
From the package of support, a £170m ring-fenced fund will be distributed through councils until the end of March, with at least 80% earmarked for help with food and bills.
The holiday food and activities programme will be expanded with a £210m investment to cover Easter, summer and Christmas in 2021.
On top of that, there will be a £16m cash boost for the nation's food banks.
However, Manchester United and England footballer Rashford said he remained concerned about the children who would miss out on help "because their family income isn't quite enough".
Support has already been announced for children in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
More than a million people signed a petition set up by the England player, calling for a package of measures including free food for poor children throughout the school holidays.
Mr Johnson phoned Rashford after he played in United's 3-1 victory against Everton in the Premier League.
Speaking after the call, Rashford said: "Following the game today, I had a good conversation with the prime minister to better understand the proposed plan, and I very much welcome the steps that have been taken to combat child food poverty in the UK."
While Rashford said he still had concerns about those who were not eligible for support, he added: "The intent the government have shown today is nothing but positive and they should be recognised for that.
"The steps made today will improve the lives of near 1.7 million children in the UK over the next 12 months, and that can only be celebrated."
'Greatest moment'
Rashford's campaign for further action against food poverty began in June, after the government insisted it would not provide vouchers over the summer holidays for the 1.3 million children in England who were receiving free school meals in term time - despite having given such support during the first coronavirus lockdown in April.
It led to the government changing its policy to allow children to claim them during the summer holidays.
The footballer said: "I am fully committed to this cause, and I will fight for the rest of my life for it, because in my mind, no child should ever go hungry in the United Kingdom.
"I want to take this moment to reflect on what has occurred over the last couple of weeks. I am so proud of 'us' as a collective."
Seeing the role that everyone had played in supporting the most vulnerable children had been "the greatest moment of my life", he said.
Marcus Rashford has prompted the government to act before.
Now he's done it again.
It is the second time the prime minister has picked up the phone to 23-year-old footballer, whose campaign has struck a chord with many, and left many Conservatives acknowledging privately for some time they would have to change tack.
Strikingly, Marcus Rashford insists this isn't about politics, or criticising Boris Johnson, it's about helping poor families.
"We're not against him. That's the main reason I was happy to talk to him," he's told BBC Breakfast.
But what also stands out is he's moving onto the next strand of his campaign - arguing that more families should get help.
Given his success so far, don't bet against him pursuing this pretty doggedly in the months ahead.
Councils step up
Last month, scores of ministers lined up to defend the government's refusal to extend free school meals over the latest half-term holidays.
And MPs voted down a Commons motion to extend free school meal provision, saying enough support was already being provided through the benefit system.
This prompted a number of local authorities to say they would continue offering free school meals throughout the week's holiday in spite of that.
However, the new scheme goes much further than that.
Announcing the package, Work and Pensions Secretary Therese Coffey said the government knew it was a challenging time for many, and insisted it had consistently supported the lowest paid families by boosting welfare support.
"We want to make sure vulnerable people are cared for throughout this difficult time and, above all, no one should go hungry or be unable to pay their bills this winter," she added.
Shadow education secretary Kate Green said Labour had been campaigning for such a change, adding: "This should have been announced weeks ago to help the children at risk of going hungry over half term."
She added that ministers needed to bring forward a long-term plan to child poverty.
Anna Feuchtwang, chief executive of the National Children's Bureau, who also chairs the End Child Poverty Coalition, said Rashford deserved "enormous credit for pushing the issue of poverty to the top of the public's agenda", adding that the government should be acknowledged for "listening".
James Toop, chief executive, of food charity Bite Back 2030, said: "It's great that Boris has listened to the voices of our young people who have been campaigning for meal provision through the holidays to be a priority through this crisis."
Leora Cruddas, chief executive of the Confederation of School Trusts, said the scheme was particularly welcome.
"Christmas will not be the same this year - and it is therefore even more important that we ensure that children have food and are kept warm."
Head teachers also welcomed the scheme but questioned why it could not have been in place for October's half term.
Nick Brook, deputy general secretary of school leaders' union the NAHT, said while the expansion of the activities programme was a positive move, it "falls short in addressing fully the issue of holiday hunger".
He added: "We would question whether provision of food to those going hungry should be dependent upon them attending an activity, which for a whole host of reasons might not be suitable, available or accessible for particular groups."
What is your reaction to the proposed support package? You can share your experiences by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk.
Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also get in touch in the following ways:
- WhatsApp: +44 7756 165803
- Tweet: @BBC_HaveYourSay
- Please read our terms & conditions and privacy policy
If you are reading this page and can't see the form you will need to visit the mobile version of the BBC website to submit your question or comment or you can email us at HaveYourSay@bbc.co.uk. Please include your name, age and location with any submission.
https://news.google.com/__i/rss/rd/articles/CBMiLWh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmJiYy5jby51ay9uZXdzL2VkdWNhdGlvbi01NDg0MTMxNtIBMWh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmJiYy5jby51ay9uZXdzL2FtcC9lZHVjYXRpb24tNTQ4NDEzMTY?oc=5
2020-11-08 08:31:00Z
52781172738078
Tidak ada komentar:
Posting Komentar