Report co-author Neera Sharma said vouchers could be given direct to families to spend on food. The report argues that families on income support - disproportionately lone parents - struggle to feed their children nutritious meals in the school holidays due to increased financial pressure.
Families told Barnardo's they were forced to resort to cheap unhealthy food as they struggled to make ends meet. "While this continues, children of parents on low incomes are going to be more likely to suffer ill health both now and later in life," said Sharma.
The report was welcomed by Child Poverty Action Group chief executive Kate Green, who said school holidays were a stressful time for families with no spare cash for childcare, activities or holidays.
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