Westminster life: Helping to get the best for our young people
This week, I had the privilege of visiting Thomas Deacon Academy, where I met Kelly and the fantastic team leading the Holiday Activities and Food Programme (HAF). This initiative is a true lifeline for many families during the summer break. I also had the chance to join the Family Hubs circus event in Bretton.
For many parents, the long holidays bring added pressures: rising food costs, juggling work, and finding activities that keep children happy, healthy, and learning. The HAF scheme, funded by the government, provides free holiday club places for children eligible for free school meals. It offers a nutritious meal each day and the chance to take part in enriching activities, from sports and art to learning about food and nutrition.
Importantly, in Peterborough, the team works especially hard to ensure vulnerable children are included through a referral system, whether they’re living in care, temporary accommodation, or experiencing family hardship. Thanks to schemes like this, more children have opportunities to thrive over the summer.
The rise in child poverty is one of the most damaging legacies of the last 14 years. Under the previous government, the impact was deeply felt. In 2010, according to the Trussell Trust, 63,000 food parcels were distributed to families across the country. By last year, that number had soared to over 3 million. Reducing that need, in Peterborough and across the UK, is part of my mission.
From my visit over the summer, the overwhelming message has been clear: families deeply value this support. It’s vital for tackling holiday hunger and keeping children active and connected. Programmes like HAF not only ease financial pressures but also help bridge gaps in well-being and opportunity. That’s why I’m proud to champion these policies in Westminster, because every child deserves the best possible start in life, no matter their postcode.
But HAF is just one piece of the puzzle. Here in Peterborough, we’re expanding our Family Hubs across the city, offering joined-up advice and support on childcare, mental health, and parenting. This is part of restoring the benefits of Sure Start, which were dismantled under the Conservatives. A new Family Hub is coming soon to the Gladstone Centre, adding to the five we already have, and I’m campaigning for a rural hub in a place like Eye.
We’re also piloting free breakfast clubs in primary schools, soon to be available to every child. These clubs support wraparound care and ensure no child starts the day hungry. And from September next year, the expansion of free school meals to all children in households on Universal Credit will benefit up to 16,000 children in Peterborough, putting up to £500 a year back into parents’ pockets.
Nursery provision is being expanded too, with new government-funded, school-based nurseries rolling out across the country. Locally, this will be a game-changer for childcare “cold spots,” giving children the best start while saving families thousands in costs.
Whether it’s early years, primary, or youth services, we’re determined to make Peterborough the best place to grow up.