Rise in food banks in UK schools highlights depth of Covid crisis – survey

Exclusive: third of teachers say schools have become key providers of support services for families in poverty

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One in five UK schools has set up a food bank since the start of the coronavirus pandemic to support struggling local families, according to a survey highlights how deeply the Covid crisis has hit living standards for many, especially in deprived areas.

A fifth of teachers said their school had launched a food bank, over a third said their school delivered food parcels to pupils' homes, and over a quarter ran breakfast clubs, some even for vulnerable pupils not eligible to attend schools during lockdown.