The rising cost of living has been reflected in new figures released by the Isle of Wight Council.
One of the most shocking numbers is the number of children claiming free school meals on the Island increased by 37% and more than 32,000 food vouchers were issued in the last year.
Kim Goode, the area director of children’s services, told the council’s health and wellbeing board on Thursday free school meals are available to children whose parents receive benefits or on an income of less than £7,400 — so an increase in the number of children on free school meals can be an indicator of declining living standards.
In January 2021, 21% of all state school pupils on the Island — or just over 3,500 — were eligible for free school meals.
The issue of poverty was highlighted by the council’s regeneration director, Chris Ashman, who said they were being told about increasing pressures in the emergency food supplies sector.
As part of the Island’s COVID recovery, he asked if a strategic emphasis could be placed on the anti-poverty agenda as well as commitment from public agencies on the Island to tackle the issue in a progressive way.
Through the government’s shared prosperity fund, more than £1 million has been allocated to the council to support new skills and businesses as well as working with communities. Mr Ashman said proposals would come forward suggesting the best ways the resources could be used.
Earlier this week, the Island’s first community pantry scheme launched in East Cowes. As an alternative to a foodbank, anyone can join the scheme where a £5 membership each week guarantees at least £15 of fresh or frozen foods as well as cupboard staples.
2 more are set to be rolled out next month, in Ventnor and Ryde, targeted where the need is said to be highest.
At the meeting, leader of the council, Councillor Lora Peacey-Wilcox said the administration’s top priority would be to deal with poverty, housing and homelessness.
Councillor Lora Peacey-Wilcox said the administration’s top priority would be to deal with poverty, housing and homelessness.
start by saying –
“you are not in poverty if you have sky tv, mobile phones, internet, smoke tobacco and drink alcohol”
“we have enough housing for islanders, so we will be skyrocketing the council tax on second homes to deter further erosion of the available stock and banning all state funded moves to the island for benefit claimants”
“if you are homeless and not from the island, you will be provided a single ferry ticket to the mainland – where you can make your way back to where you come from.”
Those who get free meals should not be then entitled to child allowance or child tax credits nor cheap rent and c. Tax.
They are getting it all ways.
Always plead what little income they get yet forget to mention free rent free c tax free meals trips uniforms prescriptions and dental care for entire family.
They KNOW the squeakiest wheel gets the most oil.
Despite contraception being free and them APPARENTLY living in poverty they still keep having more.
Hardly then good parents IF deliberate bringing a child into their misery
that is right – if you have a kid but don’t work, you get – rent paid, council tax paid, free healthcare, free dental, free schooling, child benefit, free school meals, child care allowance and free school bus if needed, as well as free cash to buy food for the home, electric/gas/water. So, what do they spend the rest of the universal credit on – yep…sky tv, mobile phones, booze, baccy and in some cases..weed
seems pointless working, when someone else does nothing and gets it handed on a plate.
Used to be the case that policies to get households out of poverty centred around creating stable employment opportunities. Yet there’s no mention about creating jobs at all.
Employment is prevention. Seems to be an acceptance that handouts, more grants, more benefits, and more housing are the only solution. Yet the Island needs much more diversified employment opportunities (not just tourism and construction jobs).
exactly – all that is happening on the island is that the council are creating conditions to enable more people to move here, by permitting the stupid housebuilding, however, they fail to address the lack of infrastructure to cope, that being doctors/dentists/schools etc.
You will have noticed the the main road network is no bigger than it was 40 years ago, yet the population is up by 30,000 people in the same period
The island will just end up being a large sink estate full of people on benefits, if this carries on.
What makes you think it isn’t already?????
A lot of people with children do work but a lot of employers on the island will NOT pay above minimum wage. despite the fact they have several houses they say they can’t afford to pay more! Blame them for not paying a LIVING wage!
A leftie response. Blame anyone but not looking closer to home.
Those with children on low wages get their pay made up via tax credits so you are wrong. They end up working half a week BUT with a full weeks pay. AND because they are on tax credits they then get heavily subsidised rent and council tax. FACT.
I agree there is a lot of poverty on the island. Unfortunately i know of at least four families who
will not work extra hours otherwise their benefits are reduced even though they will be better off by working more hours.
The reason was we are happy to work less rather than more as they enjoy having more free time to have holidays. If i know of four families how many others are there sponging of the rest .
My parents never got hand outs, but I never went without they just prioritised their income, shame parents of today can’t do the same, stop this must have the newest mobile phone or streaming service and live within your means
School meals should be free to all children. Kids can’t choose to eat healthily if their parents don’t or can’t afford to.
Why do schools have to bear the brunt all the time. Schools are now like an extension to social services. Their job is to educate not feed and act as parents.
I know for a fact the amount of work put in by teachers goes far beyond teaching in the classroom.
Social workers are reluctant to listen to concerns raised, and for the most part useless, the burden then falls on the teachers, they obviously dont have enough to do when they sit at home of an evening catching up on paper work, endless emails, online training etc, all to keep the system running and the children educated.
The amount of work generated by one minor ‘ concern or incident ‘ is unbelievable.
If you cant feed it, dont breed it. End of. And yes, totally agree with the previous statement you’re not in poverty if you’re running a car, drinking smoking have the latest phone, and sky etc. People need to prioritise before holding their hand out, kids always being the reason.
Teachers do not feed the children, back in my day we had dinner ladies, yes the food was bad but at least it was a meal
And yet when another child is the subject of abuse in the home place which often ( not always)goes hand in hand with poverty and neglect,..parents ask “why didn’t the teachers spot something wrong/ask any questions”schools and their role in a child’s life have moved on so much since the “1940’s”and making sure a child has at least one good meal in a day is not a lot to ask of such a “rich country”or is it? I forgot Billy Bunter is still in power all be it by a tenuous thread!
They have always been an important resource for children. Would you rather schools just focused on teaching and ignored the bruises, or evidence of neglect they often spot before anyone else?
No excuse a parents duty is to bring up a child that includes feeding them adequately
Why do you think so many immigrants are desperate to get over here? They see all the handouts and think “I’ll have some of that!” Schools are supposed to educate, not feed. If the parents can’t afford to look after their kids properly, take them away. They say they can’t afford food, but they can afford smartphone contracts, pay to view tv, booze, fags and tats…
Schools get enough money through other things like council tax, they should provide one meal a day to all children free of charge regardless. If they can’t they need to get a new budget manager