In the heart of Westminster last week, foodservice giant Sysco GB and child hunger charity Meals & More joined forces to confront MPs with a sobering message: the UK’s child food poverty crisis is deepening, and urgent government action is needed.
At a parliamentary briefing held on 22 October, the Tackling Food Poverty event brought together MPs, Lords, and policy advisers to discuss the escalating challenge of holiday hunger — when children from low-income families lose access to free school meals outside of term time.
With the November budget looming, the event aimed to spotlight the urgent need to strengthen and expand the Holiday, Activities and Food (HAF) Programme, which forms the Government’s primary response to child hunger during school holidays.
A call for reform and inclusion
Hosting the event was Sharon Hodgson MP, long-time advocate for children’s welfare and Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on School Food. In her address, Hodgson stressed the moral and practical imperative of ensuring that no child goes hungry once the school gates close.
“I was pleased to host Sysco and Meals & More in Parliament for this vital issue,” Hodgson said. “As Chair of the APPG on School Food, I have long championed the importance of ensuring every child has access to nutritious meals — not just during term time, but throughout the holidays too.
“There is a clear and urgent need to strengthen the HAF programme and extend its reach to all children living in poverty. Feeding children is the foundation for their health, wellbeing and ability to thrive in education and beyond.”
Her comments echoed a growing chorus of concern from schools, local councils and food charities who say that while HAF has provided a lifeline to many families, its current eligibility criteria exclude large numbers of children living just above the threshold for free school meals.
The power of partnerships
Since its founding a decade ago by Brakes, part of the Sysco group, Meals & More has provided consistent support to more than 400 holiday clubs across the UK. These clubs not only deliver nutritious meals but also offer enriching activities to combat isolation and keep children engaged during the school break.
To date, the charity has facilitated the delivery of over 2.9 million meals, but its leaders say the problem is far from solved.
Richard Cooper, Chair of Trustees at Meals & More, told attendees that collaboration with government and policymakers is now essential to create long-term solutions.
“We are committed to tackling child hunger and isolation during school holidays,” said Cooper. “That means going beyond our direct support for the organisations that provide children with safe and fulfilling activities, to engaging MPs and policymakers on the wider challenges.
“We are reassured by the engagement across the House and the support for our call on the Government to extend the HAF to match the eligibility for free school meals in September — reaching millions more children.”
A shared mission for change
Sysco GB’s Chief Executive Officer, Paul Nieduszynski, reinforced the company’s commitment to social responsibility, describing Meals & More as a cornerstone of Sysco’s wider purpose to “share food and care for one another.”
“Meals & More has provided more than 2.9 million meals over the last ten years,” Nieduszynski said. “Sadly, it’s clear that there’s much further to go. We need to double down on support for children over the holidays when the safety net of the school system is missing.
“I’m delighted that Sysco continues to play its part in supporting the work of Meals & More, and to have joined the team at this important event.”
The partnership between Sysco GB and Meals & More exemplifies how business and charity can unite to create meaningful social change. Sysco’s extensive reach across the UK’s foodservice sector provides the logistical power, while Meals & More brings the community connections and on-the-ground experience needed to deliver real impact.
The road ahead
As child poverty rates in the UK continue to rise, the question of food insecurity has become one of the defining social issues of the decade. According to recent reports, over 4 million children now live in households that struggle to afford adequate food — a figure that charities fear could climb further without intervention.
The call from Sysco and Meals & More is clear: expand the HAF scheme so that all children eligible for free school meals — and those just above the poverty line — are included. Their joint appeal urges policymakers to see feeding children not as charity, but as investment in the nation’s future health and productivity.
A moment for action
The Tackling Food Poverty event may have lasted only an afternoon, but its message resonated far beyond Westminster’s committee rooms. It served as both a celebration of progress — millions of meals served, countless lives touched — and a reminder of the scale of what remains to be done.
For Sysco, Meals & More, and the growing network of supporters behind them, the mission continues: to ensure that no child in the UK faces hunger when school’s out, and every child has the nourishment they need to grow, learn and thrive.
