Food charity calls for more government action as Lincolnshire child poverty rises

A food charity working across Lincolnshire is urging the government to go further in tackling child poverty.

The Department for Work and Pensions says around one in three children in towns such as Boston, Lincoln and East Lindsey now live below the poverty line, up from under 20% a decade ago.

At the same time, 29,014 pupils - more than one in four - were eligible for free school meals in 2024, up 38% since 2021, according to Lincolnshire County Council. The number is set to rise further when Labour expands eligibility in 2026.

“Does what the government does at the moment go far enough? I’d have to say, it never goes far enough," said Fareshare Midlands Chief Executive Simone Connoley.

"We’ve got children growing up in homes where buying good food is a real struggle for parents.”

Fareshare Midlands takes surplus food from supermarkets and suppliers and redistributes it to charities and schools from its Lincoln Hub.

Connoley says the charity tries to ensure donated food is healthy and fresh:

“Demand for our services is still high with children, we do try and adhere to healthy eating and making sure that children are eating the right food, in particular fresh produce, fruit and vegetables."

The charity says free school meals help, but more action is needed to tackle long-term food poverty.

"It's detrimental to the economy, it has a lasting impact. These children are going to school, they're not able to concentrate, their attainment suffers," said Connoley.

"They start off life disadvantaged, and sadly, that then lasts into later years, and then you have issues with unemployment."