The need for Feed London has never been more pressing – the extreme rise in the cost living – specifically in London where everything is at a premium – is pushing many more families into poverty and creating so much more hardship for children. Those already dealing with food poverty during the holidays are going to find life significantly tougher. London has the highest rate of child poverty in the UK with over a third of London’s children living in poverty – more than 700,000.

Since 1994, Miracles has been supporting children and their families living in poverty and helping them through crisis situations such as serious illness. This project will support two major strands of Miracles work:

Feed London: This delivers a box of fresh and healthy ingredients for at least 6 meals along with child friendly recipes that complement the ingredients, supermarket vouchers worth £75 each as well as lots of treats and creative kits for the children. Every family supported by the project , is living in poverty and dealing with multiple problems – from child illness, homelessness, debt, domestic violence to single mums with no recourse to public funds and stressed out young carers.

Crisis Funding: This is for families with children in Great Ormond Street Hospital receiving treatment who are living in poverty and need immediate support to get over the crisis – such as funds to cover travel to and from hospital. Those families experiencing a major crisis, such as a child needing treatment in hospital, are far less likely to have any kind of financial resource or back up to rely on – consequently Miracles is anticipating a substantial rise in calls for crisis funding this winter.

Funding from the ALMT will provide 120 Feed London boxes during the Winter and Easter holidays as well as crisis funding for one family per week for 20 weeks. The project aims to reach approximately 560 people.