The study, led by the University of Bristol, found that more food banks are now based in schools than outside them, and that they are more prevalent in schools in deprived areas.
Schools are playing a crucial role against a background of child food insecurity among low-income families, argues the paper, which calls for the need for policy makers to be aware of the issue and for an overhaul of the social security system to deal with it.
Over the past 15 years, the number of food banks in the UK has risen dramatically, and the report says how they have become a safety net amidst an ongoing period of austerity and welfare state decline.
Nursery World has also previously reported on how many nurseries across the country are also running food banks to support families.
The survey data used in the study indicates food banks exist in more than a fifth (21 per cent) of schools and this rises to a third (33 per cent) in schools with high numbers of students from deprived backgrounds.
It indicates schools run an estimated 4,250 food banks, more than charities The Trussell Trust and the Independent Food Aid Network, which run 1,646 and 1,172 food banks respectively.
Lead author Dr William Baker, senior lecturer at the University of Bristol School of Education, said, ‘Our research shows there are now, quite shockingly, more food banks inside schools than outside of schools in England. In recent years inflation has sent the cost of essentials spiralling, while other forms of state support have withered due to swingeing cutbacks. Schools are on the frontline in responding to food poverty and many are offering crisis services to struggling families.'
Dr Baker said that the fact that so many schools run food banks raised the possibility that they have already become ‘completely normalised and institutionalised’ in schools in England.
‘Teachers and support staff see the devastating effects of poverty and the cost-of-living crisis daily, so they have felt compelled to act,' he said. 'The result is a flourishing patchwork of food banks, pantries, and food clubs, which have become well-established, are often highly organised operations distributing more than just food and are an indictment of this country’s retreating welfare state. I’ll never forget the stark image of dozens of boxes of new school shoes, bought out of school funds, stacked up ready for distribution as if this was business as usual.’
The report claims policy makers are largely unaware of the nature and scale of the problem, with no national guidance or support available, in contrast to campaigns around universal free school meals and holiday food vouchers during the pandemic.
Dr Baker said, ‘Although much attention has been given to free school meal provision, the pressing wider problem of children going hungry routinely at home due to rocketing food costs and other budget pressures, such as fuel prices and interest rates, isn’t being properly addressed.
‘The fact schools are running food banks en masse is falling under the radar with no national support, guidance, or oversight. Food charity is not the solution: people need secure, fairly-remunerated jobs, and support through the benefits system so they can afford to properly feed and clothe their kids.’
Dr Baker's previous research revealed how school food aid operations varied in size and structure, from discreet food parcels given to parents and funded by staff donations to larger-scale, well-advertised regular provision with food supplied by large supermarkets and food waste charities.
Examples included a free, help yourself pantry in a shed next to the playground and a weekly stall set up at school pick-up time for parents to choose what they needed. Schools were also providing essentials, such as children’s clothing and footwear, household products including soap and washing powder, or in some cases even a free laundry service.
Paul Whiteman, general secretary of school leaders’ union NAHT, said, 'In recent years we have increasingly heard from school leaders who are going above and beyond to help children, and as well as setting up food banks, some are dipping into their own pockets to help families with food, clothing and learning resources.
'While schools do a great deal to try to mitigate the effects of disadvantage upon their pupils, they are not a replacement for a fully functioning social care system and cannot address the underlying drivers of poverty nor nullify all the impacts it has on children’s lives.
'The government hasn’t done nearly enough to support children’s recovery from the pandemic, tackle the root causes of poverty, or properly invest in social care, family support and mental health services, which have all been under-funded over the last decade.'
The latest report questions whether it is really the role of schools to run food banks, but says that as food insecurity and school food banks are likely to stay for the foreseeable future, there needs to be training so staff are better equipped to tackle the issue.
The paper also debates the global implications of the development of food banking systems, child poverty, declining welfare states and how schools are filling the gap to support vulnerable families.
- ‘Feeding hungry families: food banks in schools in England’ by Will Baker et al. in Bristol Working Papers In Education Series is available here