Advertisement
Christmas Special - Get your first 12 issues for just £12
SUBSCRIBE
Opinion

Children in poverty are missing out on memories in the school holidays. We want to change that

Trussell and English Heritage have teamed up to give children who have been helped by food banks access to days out and wonderful memories over the school holidays

family at kenilworth castle, holding a pumpkin

A family enjoying Kenilworth Castle over the Halloween season. Image: English Heritage

Imagine the first day back to school after October half term. The classroom is bustling with kids, and excited chatter about the holidays fills the room.  “We went to the cinema.” “We picked pumpkins.” “I got this really cool outfit for trick or treating and we got loads of sweets!” “My mum took us to a theme park.”  But listen carefully and not everyone is talking.

We know that one in five children across the UK are facing hunger and hardship, and for the kids whose families don’t have enough money to live on, school holidays may well be a very different experience than for their peers.  When affording essentials like heating and eating is a real challenge, the chance of going on a fun day out becomes far less likely.

And to not be able to join in with that classroom chatter about “what we did on our holidays”, further compounds the isolation that can come from living in poverty. Nearly half of all households experiencing hunger include children under the age of 16 and for parents, the effort to ensure their kids do not miss out is yet another additional stress.

It was for that reason that our charities, Trussell and English Heritage got together in 2023 to offer free days out for people who access food banks, whether they are an individual or a family. This year more than 100 different food banks in the Trussell community have taken part, and thousands of people have enjoyed free visits to world-renowned sites like Stonehenge, Osborne – Queen Victoria’s seaside home on the Isle of Wight – Corbridge Roman Town on Hadrian’s Wall, and Clifford’s Tower in York. Young and old have also been entertained by English Heritage events whether that’s medieval jousts, building castles out of toy bricks, or this Halloween, spooky woodland walks. 

As the charity which cares for over four hundred of England’s greatest historic sites, English Heritage wants to ensure that as many people as possible can experience and enjoy them.  Although visitor and members numbers have increased, for many the opportunity of a day out remains out of reach. So last year, English Heritage and Trussell developed a scheme that would ensure that people experiencing hardship could access one of these special places near to them for free.  It’s aimed at helping people who may be most in need of some time out with their family and friends to be able to enjoy a trip without worrying about the cost.

At Trussell, we know people who are unable to afford food are also going without other essentials and this takes its toll on people’s wellbeing and their mental health. While we work together to ensure everyone can afford the essentials – we are delighted to able to partner with English Heritage to provide opportunities that bring some joy to people.

Advertisement
Advertisement

One of the most common comments that food banks hear from parents is that they are making sacrifices, such as skipping meals, to ensure that their children do not miss out and can still enjoy being a kid. This scheme has made it possible for thousands of households to have a fun day out, and for more kids to join the excited post-holiday chatter filling classrooms up and down the country.

Emma Revie is chief executive of Trussell and Nick Merriman is chief executive of English Heritage.

Trussell and its community of food banks are working together to end hunger for good. Until that happens, partnerships such as the one with English Heritage are vital. At present, the scheme runs until end of March 2025 and is available to anyone who has been referred to a participating Trussell food bankThe two charities are hoping to expand their partnership through 2025, enabling more people in receipt of support from food banks to benefit from a free day out at an English Heritage site.

Big Issue is demanding an end to extreme poverty. Will you ask your MP to join us?

Advertisement

Change a vendor's life this Christmas

This Christmas, 3.8 million people across the UK will be facing extreme poverty. Thousands of those struggling will turn to selling the Big Issue as a vital source of income - they need your support to earn and lift themselves out of poverty.

Recommended for you

View all
Spain's deadly floods prove climate change is no longer a distant threat
Paul McNamee

Spain's deadly floods prove climate change is no longer a distant threat

What makes Disney's Rivals such a triumph? It has more pumping buttocks than the Grand National
Rivals
Lucy Sweet

What makes Disney's Rivals such a triumph? It has more pumping buttocks than the Grand National

Why we come together to grieve people who died while homeless
Homeless deaths tribute
JESS TURTLE

Why we come together to grieve people who died while homeless

Cuts on our children's faces from knife crime are undeniably caused by cuts to youth services
Bruce Houlder

Cuts on our children's faces from knife crime are undeniably caused by cuts to youth services

Most Popular

Read All
Renters pay their landlords' buy-to-let mortgages, so they should get a share of the profits
Renters: A mortgage lender's window advertising buy-to-let products
1.

Renters pay their landlords' buy-to-let mortgages, so they should get a share of the profits

Exclusive: Disabled people are 'set up to fail' by the DWP in target-driven disability benefits system, whistleblowers reveal
Pound coins on a piece of paper with disability living allowancve
2.

Exclusive: Disabled people are 'set up to fail' by the DWP in target-driven disability benefits system, whistleblowers reveal

Cost of living payment 2024: Where to get help now the scheme is over
next dwp cost of living payment 2023
3.

Cost of living payment 2024: Where to get help now the scheme is over

Strike dates 2023: From train drivers to NHS doctors, here are the dates to know
4.

Strike dates 2023: From train drivers to NHS doctors, here are the dates to know