SOARING numbers of Keighley children living in poverty are desperate for a meal.

Organisers of a soup kitchen run in the town have reported a massive surge in young people seeking free food.

And a ward councillor has also revealed she knows of school teachers regularly buying food for hungry pupils to eat.

Intouch Foundation, which operates a weekly soup kitchen, says demand for its services has reached unprecedented levels. An average of 100 meals a week are now being handed out by the charity at its Wednesday evening sessions in Church Green.

When the service began in April last year, the figure was less than half that.

And organisers fear with winter and Christmas fast approaching, the need will spiral still further.

“Numbers have just continued to rise during the past year and there is no prospect of that changing,” said project co-ordinator, Khurm Mehzar.

“It has been very noticeable more and more of those attending are young people and even children.

“Instances of people getting into difficulty and struggling to make ends meet are increasing and poverty levels among children are on the up.

“Worryingly, there is no sign of things improving. Indeed, we’re entering the time of year when traditionally the situation gets drastically worse.

“With the onset of colder weather, people will struggle more to keep warm and to feed themselves.”

Mr Mehzar said the organisation, which doesn’t receive any funding, was appealing for people to sponsor a meal or help out on the night.

“Our volunteers do a fantastic job but we could always do with more – especially during the winter months,” he added.

Keighley West district councillor Jan Smithies, a keen anti-poverty campaigner, agrees that having enough to eat is an issue for many young people.

“A lot of primary schools have breakfast clubs – supported by companies that provide free food – to ensure the children have something to eat at the start of the day,” she said.

“I’m aware of some teachers who have bought food so pupils don’t go hungry.

“But the problem doesn’t just relate to young children, it affects the older age group too. There is an assumption they will be supported by parents, but some people have no-one to turn to.”

Child Poverty Action Group – which campaigns on the issue nationally – says 27 per cent of children in the UK, equating to 3.5 million, are living in poverty.

But it adds that in some areas, the figure is as high as 70 per cent.

For further information about the Intouch Foundation and to offer help, visit its Facebook page or call 07578 623993.

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