Strictly Come Dancing judge Shirley Ballas has spoken out about her childhood experiences with food poverty, highlighting the struggles faced by millions of British children today. Raised by a single mother in a council flat on Merseyside, Ballas recalls relying on free school meals as a lifeline. 'I thought it was amazing,' she said. 'I figured out in the queue where I could stand, I got a nice lunch every day.'
Ballas, 63, is featuring in an ITV Tonight documentary, Kids in Poverty, which examines the rising number of children living below the poverty line. Official figures show that 30% of UK children – nine in a classroom of 30 – are in poverty, with one million classified as being in extreme poverty. Many families struggle to afford food, clothing, and basic essentials, with some children sleeping on floors or even in baths.
Ballas's mother worked multiple jobs to keep the family afloat, but money often ran out by Friday. 'Neighbours would lend you some money, if you were short of a meal everyone would muck in,' she recalled. However, she believes conditions are worse now, with a record 146,000 children in temporary accommodation in England. 'Every child should be entitled to at least one hot meal a day,' she said, calling on the government to do more.
The documentary highlights the impact of rising food costs and strict eligibility rules for free school meals. An estimated 900,000 children in poverty miss out on free meals, and nearly 900,000 share a bed or sleep on the floor. Helen Kenneally of charity Zarach said, 'The bed has become a luxury for many. We’ve been into houses where there are children sleeping in baths.'
Teachers are also feeling the strain, with 60% reportedly giving food or clothes to students and 20% of schools now running food banks. At Monksdown Primary in Liverpool, assistant head Chloe Russell noted that working parents are hit hardest, as those earning over £7,400 a year on Universal Credit are ineligible for free meals. 'It’s criminal that great parents who work hard are still struggling,' she said.
Michelle Roach, who runs a mobile food bank in Liverpool, said the situation is the worst she has ever seen. 'Everybody’s feeling the pinch,' she added. The documentary airs on ITV Tonight.
