As Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for School Food, Sharon spoke at an interactive Parliamentary briefing session hosted by the Food Foundation, and other organisations, on informing Parliamentarians about the opportunities to address Global Hunger on the road to the Rio Olympics and the Nutrition4Growth Summit.
At the event it was highlighted what role the UK should take in helping drive forward the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) on hunger and food insecurity, which states; ‘By 2030, end hunger and ensure access by all people, in particular the poor and people in vulnerable situations, including infants, to safe, nutritious and sufficient food all year round’, along with a call to end all forms of malnutrition in the UK through addressing food insecurity, but also holiday hunger by recommending that the Government looks into a holiday hunger pilot.
At the event, Sharon welcomed the idea of a holiday hunger pilot, and spoke about the important work of the School Food APPG’s Holiday Hunger Task Group, which for the last few years has looked at addressing child holiday hunger in the UK and driven this agenda forward. This is due to concerns that the positive work that goes into improving a child’s education, health and behaviour during term-time is being reversed during the long school holidays because of little, if any, healthy food for the child to eat which is widening the educational attainment gap of the most disadvantaged children in our society.
You can listen to Sharon’s speech and those of the others speakers, including the Olympic rower James Cracknell OBE, at the below video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mA8Fo1fRO3o
Following the event, Sharon said:
“For many years the All-Party Parliamentary Group for School Food has championed and campaigned for the introduction of policy that would finally address concerns in this country around hunger and food insecurity, especially amongst the most disadvantaged children in society who see their education and health affected by holiday hunger.
“Our campaign activity has included the publishing of our position paper in 2013 which set out what more could be done by policymakers to address this issue, along with the creation of the Holiday Hunger Task Group to spearhead the development of policy and pull together best practice that would provide support for those children during the long school holidays.
“The welcome collective action of all the charities and organisations who are working hard in the lead up to the Rio 2016 Summit shows that whatever we are saying on the international stage about investing and tackling global hunger must be reflected domestically here in the UK with strategies in place that ensure food insecurity and child holiday hunger become a thing of the past everywhere.”
Sharon backs Make Rio Count to address Global Hunger
As Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for School Food, Sharon spoke at an interactive Parliamentary briefing session hosted by the Food Foundation, and other organisations, on informing Parliamentarians about...
Recently Sharon was nominated for a Grassroots Diplomat Award for Social Policy Changer to recognise her work on holiday hunger as Chair of the APPG for School Food which she founded and last night was honoured by winning the Grassroots Diplomat Award at the high profile event in London.
Since 2008, Sharon has campaigned for better food provision in England’s schools, including championing the education, behavioural, social and health benefits of universal free school meals to children and young people. This meant lobbying and then working closely with the authors of the School Food Plan, and its subsequent Office, which was responsible for the roll out of universal infant free school meals. Sharon was instrumental in saving this policy from the scrapheap in the lead-up to the Comprehensive Spending Review (CSR) when it was rumoured to be at risk. Sharon, at the 11th hour, secured a commitment from the Prime Minister at Prime Minister’s Questions the week before the CSR that the policy would continue.
Alongside this, Sharon has also campaigned for policy-makers to seriously address the issue of child holiday hunger by setting up the Holiday Hunger Task Group under the umbrella of the School Food APPG. This comes as concerns have grown that some children especially those who get free school meals are not being fed properly, or much at all, during the holidays - especially the long summer holidays - due to extremely strained family budgets forcing more and more families to visit food banks than ever before during the school holidays - even those who may manage ordinarily during term time. She also highlights the educational attainment gap between the most disadvantaged children and their more affluent peers and how this gap is widening and holiday hunger makes this even worse.
Speaking after receiving her award, Sharon said:
"It was a total honour to be nominated in the first place and I was not expecting to win against such a strong field of nine other worthy campaigning politicians who have all done some amazing work to address social issues in our society.
"It is humbling to be recognised for the work I have done on child hunger, both during term-time and in the holidays as I champion this cause not for any accolade or recognition, but to ensure all children get the best chances in life - no matter what their background or circumstance.
"There is still such a long way to go to achieve my ambition of no child going hungry during the school holidays. However, with the work of the School Food APPG and its Holiday Hunger Task Group, I will continue to lobby to try and influence the Government in order that strategies and actions are put in place to tackle children going hungry during the holidays so that their health and education are not effected which would negatively impact their lives and opportunities."
To find out more about the Grassroots Diplomat Awards, visit their website here.
Sharon wins Grassroots Diplomat Award for Work on Holiday Hunger
Recently Sharon was nominated for a Grassroots Diplomat Award for Social Policy Changer to recognise her work on holiday hunger as Chair of the APPG for School Food which she...
Sharon speaking in the Backbench Business Debate on Record copies of Acts 20.04.16
Image copyright Parliamentary Recording Unit 2016
Over the past few months, Sharon has campaigned on protecting the Parliamentary practice of printing the Acts passed in the Houses of Parliament on vellum. This came about after her work as Chair of the Art, Craft and Design in Education APPG and was approached by Patricia Lovett, a calligrapher and user of vellum, about the possibility of Parliament ending the use of vellum. This debate was the chance for Members of Parliament to officially record their opposition and concern with the decision which was taken by the House of Lords earlier this year.
You can read Sharon's speech in Hansard here: Sharon Hodgson MP Backbench Business Debate on Record Copies of Acts 20.04.16
Text of speech pasted below:
Record copies of Acts (Vellum) Debate 20.04.16
Sharon speaking in the Backbench Business Debate on Record copies of Acts 20.04.16 Image copyright Parliamentary Recording Unit 2016 Over the past few months, Sharon has campaigned on protecting the...
As Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for School Food, Sharon presented certificates to primary school cooks from London and the South-East who had completed a Lead Catering Association in Education (LACA) training course.
After the certificate presentations ceremony, Sharon said:
“It was lovely to go along and present certificates to all the school cooks who had completed the LACA training course. It is always important to recognise the dedicated work of school cooks who do amazing jobs to feed our children and young people during the school day.
“With transformative changes to school food provision since the publication of the School Food Plan in 2013, school cooks have continued in their diligent way to ensure all children benefit from healthier food in our schools, especially with the roll-out of universal infant free school meals in September 2014, which has so many educational, behavioural, social and health benefits to a child’s life.
“That is why we must continue to support and recognise our school kitchen workforce with access to training courses that allow them to develop as professionals and have the respect as professionals that they rightly deserve as integral members of staff in our schools.”
Sharon presents LACA training certificates to school cooks
As Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for School Food, Sharon presented certificates to primary school cooks from London and the South-East who had completed a Lead Catering Association in...
Sharon speaking in the teenage pregnancy Westminster Hall Debate 19.04.16
Image copyright Parliamentary Recording Unit 2016
As Shadow Minister for Children, Sharon responded to a debate on teenage pregnancy in Westminster Hall, highlighting the important work done to reduce the under-18 conception rate, the multi-agency and co-operative work seen under the last Labour Government with their Teenage Pregnancy strategy between central and local government, and the need to improve sex and relationship education in our schools as part of statutory PSHE Education.
You can read Sharon's speech in Hansard here: Sharon Hodgson MP Teenage Pregnancy Westminster Hall Debate 19.04.16
Teenage Pregnancy Westminster Hall Debate 19.04.16
Sharon speaking in the teenage pregnancy Westminster Hall Debate 19.04.16 Image copyright Parliamentary Recording Unit 2016 As Shadow Minister for Children, Sharon responded to a debate on teenage pregnancy in...
Sharon speaking in the Westminster Hall Debate on Children's Homes 19.04.16
Image copyright Parliamentary Recording Unit 2016
As Shadow Minister for Children, Sharon spoke in a Westminster Hall debate focused around the pending Sir Martin Narey review into looked-after children's residential care, and highlighted concerns with out-of-area placements and the criminalisation of looked-after children.
You can read Sharon's speech in Hansard here: Sharon Hodgson MP Children's Homes Westminster Hall Debate 19.04.16
Speech pasted below:
Children's Homes Westminster Hall Debate 19.04.16
Sharon speaking in the Westminster Hall Debate on Children's Homes 19.04.16 Image copyright Parliamentary Recording Unit 2016 As Shadow Minister for Children, Sharon spoke in a Westminster Hall debate focused...
Sharon speaking in the Brain Tumour Research Westminster Hall debate 18.04.16
Image copyright Parliamentary Recording Unit 2016
Following the decision by the House of Common's Petitions Committee to debate the Brain Tumour Research petition, which 132 of Sharon's constituents had signed, and a number of on-going cases with constituents regarding treatment of brain tumours, Sharon took part in the debate in Westminster Hall to highlight two of these cases along with the need for better funding of research to ensure patients receive the best treatment and care possible.
Read Sharon's speech in Hansard here: Sharon Hodgson MP in Brain Tumour Research Westminster Hall Debate
Text pasted here:
Brain Tumour Research Westminster Hall Debate 18.04.16
Sharon speaking in the Brain Tumour Research Westminster Hall debate 18.04.16 Image copyright Parliamentary Recording Unit 2016 Following the decision by the House of Common's Petitions Committee to debate the...
Read Sharon's latest Sunderland Echo column below or find the published column on the Sunderland Echo website.
Over the past few weeks, we have seen the Government limp from one crisis to another which all comes against the backdrop of the Tories ripping themselves apart over our continued membership of the European Union and who will eventually succeed David Cameron when he steps down as Prime Minister.
Firstly, we had the ultra-shambolic Budget which saw the resignation of the then Work and Pensions Secretary, Iain Duncan Smith because of the divisive measures in the Budget and the Government’s failure to support the most vulnerable in society.
This was then followed by the decision by TATA Steel to sell off their entire UK Steel business, which sent shock waves right through the steel industry and its supply chain, and connected industries, all whilst the Business Secretary was away in Australia on a business trip knowing full well that crunch talks in Mumbai would be happening at the same time.
With nearly 40,000 people employed in our steel industry, it was deeply shameful of the Government to look complacent in the wake of such a devastating blow to one of our most important industries – especially after their failure to save Redcar steel works last year.
There have been countless opportunities for the Government to step in and save our steel industry including supporting, rather than blocking, reforms in the EU that would have alleviated the problem of cheap Chinese steel swamping the market and could have helped save this vital industry.
Instead of putting their heads in the sand, government ministers must publish a full industrial strategy that includes procurement measures to support British steel wherever possible with publically funded infrastructure projects.
To top it all off, we then had the release of the Panama Papers – which showed the Prime Minister’s father’s company was linked to the revelations which showed what we all knew was the case, tax avoidance is rife in British Overseas Territories and Crown dependencies, and after four days of misleading statements, the Prime Minister finally admitted to benefitting financially from his father’s company’s tax avoidance.
The Government has continually failed to deliver on collecting the missed income that would come from closing tax havens and loopholes, which could help our vital public services which we all rely upon. With an estimated £34billion tax gap in HMRC, more action must be taken to address this gap, however there are concerns that measures proposed in the Finance Bill will not go far enough.
It is a damning indictment of this Government when they are far more interested in their own Party’s internal division, instead of addressing some of the most pressing issues of the day. That is why Labour will continue to hold the Government to account and remind them of their duty as the Government to improve the lives of ordinary working people, rather than saving their own skins and egos.
ECHO COLUMN: Tories limp from one crisis to another
Read Sharon's latest Sunderland Echo column below or find the published column on the Sunderland Echo website. Over the past few weeks, we have seen the Government limp from one... Read more
As Labour's Shadow Minister for Children, Sharon visited Challengers, a registered children's charity since 1979 which provides play and leisure opportunities to disabled children and young people in Guildford, to see first hand the services on offer and speak with parent ambassadors about what more can be done by Parliamentarians to support families of children with disabilities.
Challengers provides families of children and young people up to the age of 25 with short breaks during high pressure times, such as at the weekend and during the school holidays, which allows them to do 'ordinary' activities and bond as a family and gives them the freedom to choose how they fulfil these activities, as a way of improving their future life chances.
Following the visit, Sharon said:
"It was wonderful to visit Challengers in Guildford and see first hand some of the work they are doing to support families of children with disabilities and also meet with some of their parent ambassadors to hear more about their experiences.
"Children and young people, regardless of their background or circumstances, should have the chance of a childhood which sees them living an active life just like their peers, whilst also accessing enriching environments that allows them to expand their horizons and reach their full potential.
"In the coming weeks and months ahead, services for children and young people with additional needs will be something I be looking at in more detail and will raise these issues in Parliament at the earliest opportunity."
Sharon visits Challengers in Guildford to hear more about short breaks for disabled children
As Labour's Shadow Minister for Children, Sharon visited Challengers, a registered children's charity since 1979 which provides play and leisure opportunities to disabled children and young people in Guildford, to...
Sharon has shown her support to the National Autistic Society’s (NAS) ‘Too Much Information’ campaign, which aims to improve the public’s understanding of autism.
As part of the campaign, NAS has released a report which reveals that poor public understanding of autism is pushing autistic people and their families into isolation.
According to a survey of over 7,000 people, their families and friends, and professionals:
- 84% of autistic people say people judge them as strange.
- 79% of autistic people and 70% of family members feel socially isolated.
- 50% of both autistic people and family members sometimes or often don’t go out because they’re worried about how people.
A recent YouGov poll in 2015 found that over 99.5% of people in the UK had heard of autism, however only 16% of autistic people and their families said that members of the public had a meaningful understanding of autism.
At the launch of the campaign in Parliament, Sharon met Alex Marshall, a ten-year-old autistic boy, who features in a short campaign film which shows an autistic child experiencing ‘too much information’ as he walks through a shopping centre. The film ends with the words: ‘I’m not naughty: I’m autistic’.
Following the launch, Sharon said:
“It is wonderful to see the National Autistic Society continuing to raise awareness and understanding of autism here in the UK and to see so many of my Parliamentary colleagues supporting their ‘Too Much Information’ campaign.
“When a person with autism is judged or looked down on because of the general public’s lack of understanding, it shows just how much further we have to go to ensure everyone feels included in society.
“No-one should ever feel so misunderstood that they don’t leave their homes because of it and I am encouraging my constituents to learn more about autism and understand this condition better.”
You can find out more about the NAS campaign and autism in general by going to their website here.
Sharon supports launch of National Autistic Society's 'Too Much Information' campaign
Sharon has shown her support to the National Autistic Society’s (NAS) ‘Too Much Information’ campaign, which aims to improve the public’s understanding of autism. As part of the campaign, NAS...