Latest news with #ActionForChildren
The Independent
3 days ago
- Business
- The Independent
Charities welcome free school meals change but warn ‘more is needed'
Charities have welcomed the expansion of free school meals as a 'first step' towards easing child poverty, but urged the Government to axe the two-child benefit cap as economists warned the scope of the change would be limited. Campaigners and school leaders said the change, which will see all pupils in families that claim universal credit in England made eligible for the scheme, will relieve pressure on household budgets. But organisations including the NSPCC, the National Children's Bureau and Action for Children insisted the abolition of the two-child welfare rule was still needed. Meanwhile, the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) warned the expansion would 'not see anything like 100,000 children lifted out of poverty next year' and that lifting the cap 'would have a lower cost per child lifted out of poverty.' The cap, which was introduced in 2017, restricts child tax credit and universal credit to two children in most households. Hundreds of thousands more pupils across the country will be able to access means-tested free school meals when the provision is extended from September 2026, the Department for Education (DfE) announced on Thursday. Currently, households in England on universal credit must earn below £7,400 a year (after tax and not including benefits) to qualify for free school meals. But the Government has announced that every pupil whose household is on universal credit will have a new entitlement to free school lunches from the start of the 2026/27 academic year. The move comes after campaigners and education leaders have called for free school meals to be extended to all children whose families are on universal credit to ease pressures on young people living in poverty. Nearly 2.1 million pupils – almost one in four of all pupils (24.6%) – in England were eligible for free school meals in January 2024. The DfE has said more than half a million more children are expected to benefit from a free meal every school day as a result of the expansion, and nearly £500 will be put back into parents' pockets every year. It suggested that the expansion will lift 100,000 children across England completely out of poverty. Chris Sherwood, chief executive of the NSPCC, said the move was a 'welcome step in the right direction' and 'a lifeline for many families who are struggling to survive in this cost-of-living crisis'. But he added: 'By removing the two-child limit, the government could lift over 350,000 children out of poverty, which, if coupled with an ambitious child poverty strategy later in the year, would help tackle the crisis children are facing.' Action for Children chief executive Paul Carberry said the changes would make a 'big difference' but 'by itself, it can't deliver the bold, ambitious reduction in child poverty that the Prime Minister has promised'. Sir Keir Starmer has indicated he is considering scrapping the two-child limit amid the prospect of a backbench rebellion over the policy, but has declined to give further details ahead of the publication of the Government's flagship child poverty strategy in the autumn. Mr Carberry said: 'This must set out a comprehensive and funded plan to fix our inadequate social security system, beginning with the abolition of the cruel two-child limit and benefit cap.' Anna Feuchtwang, chief executive of the National Children's Bureau, said the expansion should be a 'down payment' on further investment in addressing child poverty in the autumn. She said it was 'crucial' that the Government reconsiders its position on the two-child limit for the autumn. Anna Taylor, executive director of The Food Foundation, called it a 'landmark day for children'. She said: 'The expansion of free school meals is supported by the overwhelming majority of people in the UK – regardless of how they vote. 'We all know that feeding our children well, whatever their background is not rocket science, it is about priorities and today the government put children first.' The Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) said that in the long term, the change would mean free lunches for about 1.7 million additional children, but that in the short run, the announcement would benefit 'considerably fewer pupils'. Christine Farquharson, associate director at the think tank, said: 'Transitional protections introduced in 2018 have substantially increased the number of children receiving free school meals today – so in the short run, today's announcement will both cost considerably less (around £250 million a year) and benefit considerably fewer pupils (the government's estimate is 500,000 children). 'This also means that today's announcement will not see anything like 100,000 children lifted out of poverty next year.' She added: 'There is some evidence too that school meals can have benefits for children's health and attainment. 'But if the government's main interest is to reduce child poverty, there are other measures – such as lifting the two-child limit – that would have a lower cost per child lifted out of poverty.'
BBC News
28-05-2025
- General
- BBC News
Artists wanted for homeless charity's 'bright and natural' mural
Artists across Guernsey are being given the chance to create a mural for a charity supporting children at risk of for Children (AFC) said it was teaming up with Guernsey Arts to improve one of its accommodation's communal areas by giving it a "bright and natural" interested could submit a design and, after it has been approved by the young people, they would be given a fee of £1,000 and materials to help create the mural, bosses said. AFC houses people between the age of 13 and 25 in so-called training flats to teach them about living skills, employment, and how to deal with substance abuse. "We know engaging in projects around the arts improves long-term outcomes for young people," said Aaron Davies, from Action for Children."This particular project allows us to design a space where young people can create a sense of community, peer support and pride where they live."Guernsey Arts said it was "thrilled" to help provide "more positive, social environments" for young must submit their design to Jade@ with "AFC Mural" in the subject line.
Yahoo
25-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
'There is so much more to the sport': Scottish boxing champ hails new pilot scheme
A Scottish boxing champion has praised a new Glasgow pilot scheme. Bobby Morrell, aka The Tartan Spartan, has highlighted the importance of the eight-week boxing pilot organised by children's charity Action for Children in collaboration with WDP Boxing Gym. The scheme, which focused on fitness and basic boxing techniques, was supported by several experienced boxing professionals. Read more: 'The change is like night and day': Former submariner's journey from despair to hope It was designed to provide Glasgow's young people with a safe space and a chance to hear from positive community role models. Young people, boxing coaches and Amanda Reily (bottom centre left) celebrating ending a successful pilot (Image: Supplied) Bobby was among the guests who shared their experiences with the young participants. He had a particular connection to the group, as before becoming a professional athlete, he was supported by Action for Children's employability service. Bobby said: "By sharing my story and the path which boxing has offered me, if I'm able to offer even one young person the inspiration of the power of sport to get involved, then it will be worth it. "There is so much more to the sport than what people see in the ring; the resilience, dedication to training, and hard barriers which you need to overcome. "It's those skills which make it such a positive influence on growing up and that's exactly what more young people need." Other guests included Police Scotland officers, broadcaster Sean McDonald, WDP Boxing Gym owner Harry Khan, and coach Mark Laurie. They discussed topics such as addiction, online safety, the positive role of sport, and alternative coping strategies. Professional fighters from WDP Boxing Gym also joined a session to work one-on-one with the young people. The success of the pilot has sparked interest from several other children's charities and local community organisations about the potential for further cycles of the programme. The charity is now exploring funding options to continue the project beyond the pilot stage, which can be supported here: Read more: Success of Battlefield's new cycle route to Glasgow city centre revealed Amanda Reily, organiser of the pilot programme and family support practitioner at Action for Children, said: 'I'm a huge fan of boxing and have trained in the sport for years so I know the real physical and mental benefits it can offer people which lead me to start this pilot. "It's been great getting to watch the young people take part and safely enjoy trying a new sport. "Because it's physical and stimulates their mind they're able to get really involved in the sessions, which is great when some of the young people might not engage with other local support or activities. "It's that engagement which makes the positive influences from speakers sharing our lived experience much more impactful."
The Independent
16-04-2025
- Entertainment
- The Independent
Eddie Marsan dedicates his OBE to his east London community who all ‘stepped up'
Sherlock Holmes, Mission Impossible and V For Vendetta actor Eddie Marsan has said he owes everything to his community and wants to share his OBE with them. Marsan, 56, who recently played Amy Winehouse's father Mitch in the film Back To Black, was made an OBE for his services to drama at an investiture ceremony at Windsor Castle on Wednesday. The son of a lorry driver and a school dinner lady, the actor was raised on a council estate in Bethnal Green, east London. When he heard he was on the New Year Honours list, Marsan said he wanted to share his OBE with Bethnal Green and his family. After the ceremony he said: 'When I was younger, my parents had a difficult marriage, but the members of my community, the members of the St Lucian community in Bethnal Green and an East End bookmaker who paid for me to go to drama school, they all kind of stepped up and I owe everything to them really. 'If I look at where I am now it is because of the kindness and support of the community of Bethnal Green really.' He added the Princess Royal was 'very supportive' and had a great sense of humour. He went on to refer to multiple upcoming films, along with a TV series called King And Conqueror and another called Lockerbie. Meanwhile, Inspector Morse and Lewis actor Kevin Whately, 74, happily explained he had 'nothing to flog' while enjoying his day at the ceremony. The actor first rose to fame playing Neville in the 1980s comedy Auf Wiedersehen, Pet before taking a career defining role as John Thaw's right hand man in Inspector Morse. Whately was made OBE for services to drama and charity, and said he is happily retired. He said: 'I was never very ambitious and I'm really enjoying not doing very much. 'I don't miss getting up at five o'clock in the morning, I can do it occasionally but not every day which is what we used to do.' Whately added that he and Anne had spoken about retirement during the ceremony. He said: 'I met the Princess Royal before worked for one of her animal charities, but not for a long time, but we're of a similar age so we had a little bit to talk about.' Organisations he has supported include Action For Children and the performing arts charity, the Wavendon Foundation, which helps budding actors and singers through drama school and conservatoires.
Yahoo
16-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Eddie Marsan dedicates his OBE to his east London community who all ‘stepped up'
Sherlock Holmes, Mission Impossible and V For Vendetta actor Eddie Marsan has said he owes everything to his community and wants to share his OBE with them. Marsan, 56, who recently played Amy Winehouse's father Mitch in the film Back To Black, was made an OBE for his services to drama at an investiture ceremony at Windsor Castle on Wednesday. The son of a lorry driver and a school dinner lady, the actor was raised on a council estate in Bethnal Green, east London. When he heard he was on the New Year Honours list, Marsan said he wanted to share his OBE with Bethnal Green and his family. After the ceremony he said: 'When I was younger, my parents had a difficult marriage, but the members of my community, the members of the St Lucian community in Bethnal Green and an East End bookmaker who paid for me to go to drama school, they all kind of stepped up and I owe everything to them really. 'If I look at where I am now it is because of the kindness and support of the community of Bethnal Green really.' He added the Princess Royal was 'very supportive' and had a great sense of humour. He went on to refer to multiple upcoming films, along with a TV series called King And Conqueror and another called Lockerbie. Meanwhile, Inspector Morse and Lewis actor Kevin Whately, 74, happily explained he had 'nothing to flog' while enjoying his day at the ceremony. The actor first rose to fame playing Neville in the 1980s comedy Auf Wiedersehen, Pet before taking a career defining role as John Thaw's right hand man in Inspector Morse. Whately was made OBE for services to drama and charity, and said he is happily retired. He said: 'I was never very ambitious and I'm really enjoying not doing very much. 'I don't miss getting up at five o'clock in the morning, I can do it occasionally but not every day which is what we used to do.' Whately added that he and Anne had spoken about retirement during the ceremony. He said: 'I met the Princess Royal before worked for one of her animal charities, but not for a long time, but we're of a similar age so we had a little bit to talk about.' Organisations he has supported include Action For Children and the performing arts charity, the Wavendon Foundation, which helps budding actors and singers through drama school and conservatoires.
