In My View: Janet Daby, MP for Lewisham East

Throughout 2022 we saw the true impact of what over a decade of Conservative rule has done to Britain.

In 2022, and at the beginning of 2023 a wide range of key workers expressed their desperation by going on strike.

This ranges from education staff, bus drivers, postal workers, train and Tube drivers, nurses, ambulance drivers, and civil servants.

The list goes on and on. One of the main causes of the strikes is the increase in inflation.

The Government has so far failed to address this and ignoring these workers will not work.

Instead, the Prime Minister is failing to lead the country. He is constantly U-turning because he is ruled by his backbenchers.

The wider impacts of this economic chaos have been immense for many in Lewisham East.

This can be seen by what our children are having to endure.

I have been contacted by headteachers across my constituency on the worsening shortfall between what schools are given to pay for each free school meal and what each free school meal costs.

Yet again the Government fails to see what needs to be done.

Currently, schools in England are given £2.30 per plate. Yet because of rising inflation catering companies are charging up to £3.00 per plate.

This will mean school budgets that would be spent on teachers and all other staff, running costs and educational resources will now have to be spent on this shortfall.

In some cases, this adds up to £20,000.

Many schools and teachers are already paying out of their own pockets to feed children breakfast in the classroom.

Many parents rely on food parcels to be able to feed their families.

This whole situation needs to be prevented from becoming a public health crisis.

The quality of food is important as well as having freshly cooked food.

For many children, their free-school meal is the only hot meal they have in a day.

If children are denied access to healthy and nutritious food they will go hungry or their families will resort to cheaper unhealthy foods.

We cannot afford to risk the health and education of young people.

The rest of my column will signpost how families in Lewisham East can access support if they feel they are struggling:

Energy/Warm banks:
https://lewisham.gov.uk/myservices/environment/environment/energyefficiency/energy-efficiency-at-home/help-for-vulnerable-residents-to-stay-warm-and-healthy

“Warm welcome” scheme at Lewisham libraries:
https://lewisham.gov.uk/articles/news/a-warm-welcome-for-anyone-at-lewishams-local-libraries
https://www.lewishamlocal.com/lewisham-warm-spaces/

Practical advice and support for heating homes:
www.fuelbankfoundation.org/individuals/

Top tips to keep your baby warm:
www.lewishamcfc.org.uk/top-tips-to-keep-your-baby-warm-in-winter-from-the-nct/

Activities and food:
https://lewisham.gov.uk/articles/news/free-activities-and-food-for-eligible-schoolchildren-during-school-holidays

Lewisham winter holiday programme of food, fun and other activities 2022:
www.lewishamcfc.org.uk/lewisham-winter-holiday-programme-of-food-fun-and-other-activities-2022/

Food banks:
https://lewisham.foodbank.org.uk/locations/
https://lewisham.gov.uk/mayorandcouncil/community-support/communityledprojects/food-bank-donation-and-distribution-points
https://lewisham.gov.uk/myservices/cost-of-living/food-services

Clothes and other items:
https://lewishamdonationhub.org/