The Impact of Hunger on Children
Why Food Support Matters During the School Holidays
The Impact of Hunger on Children Goes Beyond Empty Stomachs
Food insecurity doesn’t simply mean a child feels hungry. It can affect their health, confidence, education and ability to participate fully in school life.
When children don’t have regular access to healthy, nutritious food, the consequences can be immediate and long-lasting.
Research from The Food Foundation’s Broken Plate 2026 report shows that children living in the most deprived communities are significantly more likely to experience short stature and are less likely to catch up in growth as they get older. Even after just six weeks without a healthy diet, children can experience reduced energy, poorer wellbeing and declining overall health. Many are also missing essential nutrients including iron, zinc and iodine, all of which are vital for healthy brain development and concentration.
But the impact of hunger extends far beyond physical health.
Hunger affects learning
It’s difficult for any child to concentrate in the classroom when they’re worried about where their next meal is coming from. Teachers consistently report that children who arrive at school hungry are less able to focus, engage in lessons and retain information. The Government has also recognised that a healthy breakfast improves pupils’ readiness to learn and supports attendance and educational attainment through its expansion of breakfast clubs.
Children experiencing wider disadvantage also achieve significantly lower educational outcomes. In England, the average Attainment 8 score for disadvantaged pupils is 34.9, compared with 50.4 for non-disadvantaged pupils, highlighting the close relationship between poverty, food insecurity and educational achievement.
Hunger can isolate children
Food insecurity can also have a profound emotional and social impact.
Many children worry about standing out because they don’t have enough food, can’t afford packed lunches similar to their classmates, or miss out on activities involving food. Parents often skip meals themselves to shield their children from these realities, but the stress and anxiety of financial hardship can still affect the whole family.
Every child deserves to feel included, confident and able to enjoy school without worrying about whether there will be enough food at home.
Why the School Holidays Are So Challenging
During term time, many children rely on free school meals to provide a nutritious meal each day. When schools close for the holidays, that support disappears, but the need does not.
Families suddenly need to provide additional breakfasts and lunches every day while often facing rising household costs. For parents already managing tight budgets, this can significantly increase financial pressure, leading more families to seek support from their local food bank.
Food banks regularly report increased demand during school holidays, making community donations and fundraising campaigns particularly important at these times of year.
How Food Bank Aid Helps
Food Bank Aid works with food banks across London, supplying more than 100 essential food and household items that local organisations can choose from each week. This means food banks receive the products their communities need most, helping families access nutritious food alongside everyday essentials.
Whether it’s breakfast cereal, UHT milk, pasta, fresh fruit and vegetables, baby food or toiletries, every donation helps food banks respond to local demand while preserving choice and dignity for the people they support.
How You Can Make a Difference
Our School’s Out fundraiser is about ensuring children and families have access to essential food throughout the school holidays.
By donating, organising a collection at your workplace or school, or supporting Food Bank Aid in another way, you’re helping food banks provide nutritious food to families when they need it most.
Together, we can help ensure that no child starts the new school term having gone hungry over the holidays.