The Kidz Cafe

Recent data published by Unicef shows one in five youngsters under 15 in the UK now live in a food insecure home. A recent study of food poverty in the UK found that the families of nearly 4 million children would struggle to afford enough fruit, vegetables and other healthy foods to meet the government’s nutritional guidelines. In London the situation is even worse with 44% of children living in low-income households and nearly 10% of them (the equivalent of children across London) said that they sometimes or often go to bed hungry. Almost 1.3 million children, about 15% of those in England's state schools, receive free school meals because they come from low income families. For many of these kids the free lunch they receive at school is their main source of nutrition and often their own proper meal of the day. The data shows the need is greatest in parts of London, especially in Tower Hamlets with more than double the national average of families claiming free school meals for their children. With UK schools closed many of our children are facing hunger and malnutrition on a daily basis. Some schools are providing a lunch pick up service which is only being partially used, the many who can't provide that service offer £3 per day per child in food vouchers. Last time we checked it's almost impossible to buy a decent lunch for just £3, especially in central London! The Kidz Cafe is a community interest corporation with the simple mission to provide healthy and delicious food to kidz who need it most. Right now we're focussing on providing meals to those children who are missing out on the free school meals no longer available during lockdown.