Hackney Foodbank Tackles Child Poverty Campaign 2026

Key Points

• Hackney Foodbank has launched a campaign named No Child Left Hungry to raise £50,000 for emergency food and provisions for children in the borough.
• The campaign targets support for the 590 children who rely on the foodbank’s services each month, a figure that has doubled in two years according to data linked in reports.
• Jenna Fansa, Head of Fundraising at Hackney Foodbank, highlighted the generational impact of poverty, stating: “There is a generation of children who have grown up in foodbanks.”
• Last year’s English Indices of Deprivation ranked 16 per cent of Hackney’s neighbourhoods as highly deprived, with 64 per cent of children in income-deprived households – the second-worst area for child deprivation in England.
• The Joseph Rowntree Foundation (JRF) notes poverty in the UK is deeper and more damaging than at any point in the last 30 years, as per chief analyst Peter Matejic.
• Hackney Foodbank anticipates distributing over £125,000 worth of emergency supplies and spending £50,000 on caseworker support for families this year.
• Chair of Trustees Fatima Habib described meeting malnourished families in unsuitable accommodation, adding: “Our team regularly meets malnourished families living in unsuitable accommodation and it’s becoming increasingly difficult to meet the huge need in our community.”
• A beneficiary family, Tyler Munson and her two children, live in cramped, damp one-bed temporary accommodation without a working fridge; Munson said: “Before the foodbank started helping me, there were days when I would go hungry so [my children] could eat.”
• Caseworkers assist with benefits, grant applications, employment, and housing issues, including plans to provide Munson’s family a grant for a new fridge.
• Fansa urged overcoming stigma: “Do not see it [coming for help] as hitting rock bottom, but instead as making things better. There is never any shame in asking for help.”
• Fansa emphasised collective responsibility: “It is our collective responsibility to help children have as normal a childhood as possible.”

Hackney, London (East London Times) February 19, 2026 – Hackney Foodbank has launched its No Child Left Hungry campaign aiming to raise £50,000 to provide emergency food and provisions for the borough’s most vulnerable children, amid rising child poverty rates that have positioned Hackney as one of England’s worst-affected areas.

The initiative comes as 590 children depend on the foodbank each month, a number that has doubled over two years, underscoring a deepening crisis in the borough. Organisers hope the funds will deliver essential support to break cycles of deprivation.

What Is the No Child Left Hungry Campaign?

The No Child Left Hungry campaign seeks £50,000 specifically to supply emergency food parcels and provisions tailored for children facing hunger in Hackney. As reported by journalists at the Hackney Citizen, the drive addresses the immediate needs of families where parents and children alike grapple with persistent poverty.

Jenna Fansa, Head of Fundraising at Hackney Foodbank, told the Citizen:

“There is a generation of children who have grown up in foodbanks. Parents that we speak to now have often grown up in poverty. We really need to break that change and inspire children to have big dreams.”

She added:

“We must all come together and donate so we can help their families out of poverty and give them the food they need so they can study and learn.”

Hackney Foodbank anticipates the campaign will enable distribution of over £125,000 worth of emergency supplies this year, alongside £50,000 allocated to caseworker support for struggling families. This holistic approach extends beyond food to tackle root causes.

Why Is Child Poverty So Severe in Hackney?

Hackney ranks among England’s most deprived areas for child poverty, with last year’s English Indices of Deprivation classifying 16 per cent of its neighbourhoods as highly deprived. A staggering 64 per cent of children live in income-deprived households, making the borough the second-worst in England for this metric.

The Joseph Rowntree Foundation (JRF), an anti-poverty social change organisation, warns the situation has worsened recently. Peter Matejic, the JRF’s chief analyst, stated:

“Poverty in the UK is still not just widespread, it is deeper and more damaging than at any point in the last 30 years.”

Chair of Trustees Fatima Habib elaborated on the ground realities, saying:

“Our team regularly meets malnourished families living in unsuitable accommodation and it’s becoming increasingly difficult to meet the huge need in our community.”

These conditions exacerbate vulnerability, trapping families in cycles of hardship.

Who Are the Families Affected by This Crisis?

Personal stories illustrate the human toll. Tyler Munson, a mother relying on the foodbank with her two children, described life in their one-bed temporary accommodation, which is cramped, damp, and lacks a working fridge. Munson shared:

“Before the foodbank started helping me, there were days when I would go hungry so [my children] could eat. It’s such hard work mentally and physically to be poor. We have been on a waiting list for a bigger, permanent flat for the past five years and could be waiting years to come.”

Her family’s plight is far from isolated, with caseworkers noting similar struggles across the borough. Fatima Habib praised the team’s efforts:

“Our caseworkers do amazing work lifting households out of poverty – helping with benefits, grant applications, employment, and housing issues.”

In Munson’s case, foodbank caseworkers hope to secure a grant for a new fridge, offering practical relief.

Jenna Fansa reinforced the need for broader support, telling the Citizen that Hackney Foodbank urges people to ignore the “real stigma” around using their services. She said:

“Do not see it [coming for help] as hitting rock bottom, but instead as making things better. There is never any shame in asking for help.”

How Does Hackney Foodbank Plan to Use the Funds?

The £50,000 target will directly fund children’s emergency food provisions, part of a larger £125,000 in supplies expected this year. An additional £50,000 will bolster caseworker roles, providing specialised aid on benefits, grants, employment, and housing – critical for long-term escape from poverty.

Fatima Habib highlighted the strain:

“It’s becoming increasingly difficult to meet the huge need in our community.”

The campaign positions these interventions as vital to preventing malnutrition and enabling children to focus on education.

Jenna Fansa framed donations as a collective duty, stating:

“It is our collective responsibility to help children have as normal a childhood as possible.”

This appeal calls on the community to contribute, ensuring no child goes hungry.

What Challenges Do Families Face in Accessing Help?

Stigma remains a barrier, as Fansa noted, with many viewing foodbank use as failure rather than a step forward. Tyler Munson’s account reveals physical and mental tolls: endless waiting lists for housing, inadequate living conditions, and daily sacrifices for children’s meals.

Government data via the English Indices of Deprivation confirms structural issues, with 64 per cent child income deprivation driving demand. The JRF’s Peter Matejic contextualised this nationally: poverty’s depth exceeds levels seen in three decades.

Hackney Foodbank counters these through caseworkers, who, as Habib described, address multifaceted needs. Yet rising demand – 590 children monthly – tests resources, making the campaign urgent.

How Can the Community Get Involved?

Donations to No Child Left Hungry form the core call to action, with Fansa urging unity:

“We must all come together and donate.”

The foodbank encourages viewing support as empowerment, not shame.

Habib’s insights into malnourished families underscore the stakes, while Munson’s story humanises the appeal. By funding supplies and casework, contributors can help break poverty cycles.

Fansa’s vision is aspirational: inspiring “big dreams” for children unburdened by hunger. As Hackney grapples with its deprivation rankings, this campaign offers tangible hope.

Broader Context of Poverty in Hackney

Hackney’s 16 per cent highly deprived neighbourhoods reflect entrenched issues, worsened per JRF analysis. Nationally, Matejic’s warning signals systemic failure, with child poverty metrics placing Hackney second-worst.

Foodbank reliance has surged, doubling child users in two years. Habib’s frontline observations – unsuitable homes, malnutrition – align with deprivation indices.

Fansa’s generational perspective adds depth: parents raised in poverty now raise hungry children. Breaking this requires community-wide effort, as she advocates.

Impact of Caseworker Support

Beyond parcels, £50,000 for caseworkers targets systemic fixes. Habib detailed: benefits navigation, grant aid like Munson’s fridge, job help, housing advocacy.

Munson’s five-year wait exemplifies delays caseworkers mitigate. This proactive model lifts families, per Habib: “amazing work.”

Fansa ties it to normalcy: nourished children learn better, dream bigger. Campaign funds amplify this lifeline.

Overcoming Stigma Around Foodbanks

Fansa directly tackled taboos: “There is never any shame in asking for help.” Reframing aid as “turning point” destigmatises access.

Munson’s sacrifices – skipping meals – show desperation stigma silences. Foodbank’s message: seek help boldly.

Habib and Fansa agree: collective action normalises support, ensuring childhoods unmarred by want.