Families skipping meals: FareShare Sussex & Surrey says it is facing a “mountain” of need over the school holidays and warns some local families may miss meals when free school meals are unavailable. The charity told the BBC it has seen rising pressure on supplies and greater demand from households needing extra help during holiday weeks. This report outlines what the charity is saying, where pressure is being felt locally, how the claim is verified, and where families can find practical support.
What the charity says: Families skipping meals
FareShare Sussex & Surrey described the situation as a “mountain” of need that becomes more acute during school holidays when children lose access to free school meals. The charity told the BBC volunteers and partner organisations are seeing higher requests for food parcels and community distribution as families cover additional meal costs.
In its comments to the BBC the charity emphasised the strain on local operations and growing reliance on donated food and volunteer time. The wording used by FareShare — including the phrase “mountain of need” — reflects the charity’s assessment of pressure around holiday periods rather than a detailed statistical measure.
Local picture in Sussex and Surrey
FareShare says the pressure is being felt across both Sussex and Surrey. Local food distribution points, community kitchens and volunteer groups report increased enquiries and demand for help when schools close for several weeks over the summer and other holiday periods.
Charities working in towns and more rural areas tell a similar story: when school-provided meals stop during breaks, families who rely on that provision can face extra costs for breakfasts and lunches. FareShare and local partners are focusing on targeted collections, parcel drops and supporting community venues to maintain provision during those gaps.
Local volunteers and smaller charities often run collections from community centres, faith groups and pop-up distribution points. Those networks can fill immediate gaps but may struggle as demand rises, particularly if donations or volunteer numbers do not keep pace.
Verification and limits of the claim
The claim that families are skipping meals is presented in the BBC report as the charity’s assessment. The source article does not provide numerical data, local authority figures or independent verification to show how many households are affected.
That means the term “mountain of need” describes what FareShare and partners are seeing on the ground rather than a quantified measure produced by a third party. Readers should treat the wording as an alert from a frontline charity and look for follow-up reporting or published local statistics for fuller context.
Where families can find help
If you or someone you know is under strain over the school holidays, there are several practical routes to get immediate support:
- Search for emergency foodbanks via the Trussell Trust: https://www.trusselltrust.org/get-help/find-a-foodbank/
- Find local Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) programmes here: https://www.gov.uk/find-local-haf
- Contact Citizens Advice for benefits, debt and local signposting: https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/
- Contact your local council for hardship or family support schemes: https://www.gov.uk/find-local-council
- FareShare works with local partners to redistribute surplus food — details on partner organisations and how to access support are at https://fareshare.org.uk
Immediate steps for anyone in need: phone your council or a local charity, search the HAF finder for holiday meals and activities, or contact a local foodbank to request an emergency parcel. Many community groups also publish opening times and collection points on social media and parish noticeboards.
What comes next
In the short term, charities say they will continue scaling collections and working with partners to maintain holiday provision. Donations of food, funding and volunteer time are likely to remain important to meet demand in the coming weeks.
What to watch for: published local authority statistics or formal reports from charities that include measurable data on demand, distribution volumes and service uptake. Those figures would help clarify how widespread the problem is, which neighbourhoods are most affected, and whether short-term responses are meeting need.
FAQ
Are families really skipping meals in Sussex and Surrey?
The claim that families are skipping meals comes from FareShare Sussex & Surrey and was reported by the BBC. It reflects the charity’s assessment of local demand during school holidays but the BBC piece does not provide independent numerical verification.
What evidence did FareShare Sussex & Surrey provide?
FareShare described facing a “mountain” of need and said its volunteers and partners have seen increased pressure on local services. The BBC report does not include third‑party data or local authority statistics to quantify the exact scale of the problem.
How can local families get food support during school holidays?
Families can contact local food banks, community centres, or their council to ask about emergency food parcels and holiday programmes. Use the links above to find local HAF programmes, foodbanks and advice organisations. FareShare’s national site lists partner organisations and distribution points at https://fareshare.org.uk.
Source: BBC News – Business: Families skipping meals during holidays – charity
