Best way to find and support a hungry child?

[Antst]

My father was an alcoholic who didn't work for 35 years, so childhood was tough. I was lucky enough to finish my education just before the 2008 financial crash hit and there was a mass layoff of nearly all of the postgraduate students in my programme. Before that I scraped through on scholarships that disappeared after 2008.

I have been feeling very guilty that I made it through while there are so many kids who can't even eat regularly let alone think about education. I'd like to help but don't know the best way and mostly turned up overseas charities or UK charities I have never heard of while searching just now.

Can anyone please suggest reputable charities that help kids in the UK with regular meals and/or other necessities like Tampax, clothes, etc? Thank you.

Contact your local church - they run the food banks/basic banks/night shelters etc

Donate to your local food bank. They will be putting a lot more of what you can give directly into supporting those who have hit rock bottom than the big national charities can.

Thank you both.

I think that is a really lovely thing to think of and do. Agree with the others about the local foodbanks but also some local schools / youth groups? Our local church regularly asks for similar donations.

If you have time, you could offer to be a mentor for a school-aged child.

mentorlink.org.uk]]

I've just realised that this is just in the West Midlands, but I'm sure other similar programmes exist regionally.

Your local authority website may have a section on volunteering in the local community. Ours has a mailing list you can join to be notified of opportunities.

You can volunteer time, donate food or send money. National charity with foodbanks all over the country. www.trusselltrust.org/get-involved/volunteer/

A local food bank. I run one in my corner of London and we do have people in your position get in touch and ask us what specifically we need - one chap bought us a new fridge!