More than one in six parents surveyed (18%) across the UK say they have put their children to bed hungry or without enough food at least once a week in the last 12 months, due to issues accessing or affording enough food, according to new research released today by Comic Relief and Sainsbury’s.
The findings expose the scale of food insecurity facing families, with parents making hidden sacrifices to protect their children from hunger and distress. More than a quarter (26%) of parents surveyed pretend there is more food in the house than there actually is to avoid upsetting their children, while 32% have skipped meals weekly in the last 12 months so their children can eat.
While more than three quarters of parents surveyed (76%) said bedtime is one of the most important bonding moments with their children, for families struggling to access or afford food, a moment that should be safe and comforting can be a time of increased stress and worry.
The research coincides with the launch of an ambitious new phase of Comic Relief and Sainsbury’s partnership, building on their vital work to tackle the deepening issue of food insecurity in local communities. Together, they aim to raise £30million to provide millions of meals for children and families across the UK over the next five years*, helping to fund initiatives such as food clubs, after-school meals and school holiday clubs.
To help shine a light on the issue, a powerful new short film has been released today on YouTube featuring actor Jodie Whittaker, who narrates a new poem written by screenwriter, director and Comic Relief co-founder Richard Curtis.
Let’s Put Hunger to Bed, is inspired by the real lived experiences of parents and children affected by food insecurity. Told from the perspective of a child facing food poverty, the poem subverts the familiar bedtime routine to surface the reality facing millions, where meals are skipped or scarce. It ends with a powerful message of hope: “Somehow, soon, we’ll put hunger to bed.”
Comic Relief co-founder, Richard Curtis said: “We are hugely grateful to the parents who have shared their experiences and helped inspire the poem. While the research shows the scale of hunger and hardship facing families across the UK, it’s incredibly important to make sure the voices of families are heard and to tell stories grounded in the reality of what’s happening in homes across the country. That’s how we can truly understand how urgent this issue is.
“The work Comic Relief and Sainsbury’s are doing together to help get millions more meals to children and families is crucial, and has never been more needed.”
