Emily, a mother of three from North Yorkshire’s affluent town of Harrogate, finds herself selling household items online every month to afford food for her family.

Debt and Sacrifices: A Harsh Reality

Emily resorts to selling toys, clothes, and even household appliances to manage living expenses. Despite these efforts, she is in debt from using buy-now-pay-later schemes for groceries and often skips meals so her children can eat.

Headteacher Nicola Thornber says her school tries to help struggling families

School Holidays Add Pressure

With summer holidays increasing her financial burden, Emily relies on a £140 food voucher from North Yorkshire Council but still struggles. Free holiday clubs and meals provided by the government are inaccessible due to transportation issues and high demand.

About 19,000 children receive free school meals in North Yorkshire, government figures show

Community Support and Limited Options

Emily’s youngest child starts nursery soon, but with limited free hours, full-time work remains out of reach. Local schools and churches step in to support families like Emily’s, but the need remains high.

Reverend Darryl Hall says he is stocking up his church’s food bank for the summer

Government Initiatives

North Yorkshire Council and the Department for Education (DfE) are working to provide free meals, holiday clubs, and childcare to low-income families. Despite these efforts, many families face barriers to accessing these services.