Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice
“There is often half the month where I'm making ends meet with my credit card,” confessed Kirsty, a single mother of three on universal credit. “Money runs out quickly.”
The youngest of her children attends pre-school three days a week and requires a packed lunch. “I often will spend £10-plus on lunchbox items every few days, topping up bread, cheese, butter, crisps, yoghurts, fruit... It adds up very quickly to a very scary amount.”
And this situation is likely to continue for hundreds of thousands of disadvantaged young children despite government plans to expand free school meals next year, according to a new report.
Around 2
Continue Reading on The Independent
This preview shows approximately 15% of the article. Read the full story on the publisher's website to support quality journalism.