Reducing stigma around holiday food schemes

What is stigma?

It is widely recognised that targeted services have disadvantages as, by definition, they do not reach everyone, and can create stigma from the belief that services are only for ‘failing families’. They are not unique as both targeted and universal approaches have risks and advantages to be considered in terms of achieving reach, outcomes and impacts, all whilst avoiding stigma. No one wants to bring shame upon children, young people, families, or communities associated with a particular circumstance, quality, or characteristic.

Benefiting those that are eligible for HAF

The nature of attempting to benefit eligible children and young people requires careful consideration of how restricting services to ‘the few’ can provide greater benefit to less people, and how targeting can make some people unhappy about not being able to benefit from access to services. Universal strategies aim to benefit more people (everyone), yet they could make people less happy and create ‘general’ benefit because the overall effect of the support could be diluted. It could be possible that families who have low-income employment can feel stigma as much as, or indeed more than, families in non-working households. In all events, access based on stigma cannot be a good thing, even if the eventual outcomes are successful.