As you may know, I am one of the Councillors for Charles Dickens Ward in Portsmouth. This is an area which experiences the worst poverty in the city. Whilst I will probably never know what it would it feel like to be stuck in such a dire situation, I want to reaffirm the message that this could happen to anybody and is currently happening to more and more people every day. So, that's why I'm wielding my influence as a local community activist and political figure to raise money for this great cause and help FoodCycle. 

In the UK, an estimated 3 million children risk being hungry in the school holidays. That’s why I’m taking part in the Holiday Hunger Challenge.

After a discussion with my husband, he's decided to join in and we will have £35 between us to spend on Monday the 16th of July. We have to live on that for the week. To feed our whole family (A five year old, three year old and a cat). To potentially pay for the bus. To buy cat food. To buy washing detergent. To enjoy leisure activities. 

Our week will be a challenging one and already I know in my heart that £35 isn't enough. This however, is what people are going through on a daily basis. This is where I'm committed to blogging every day about our experiences. From meal planning, to breaking a cycle of isolation that poverty brings. Immersing myself and my family in the generous community who seek to help those in need.  There will also be some uncomfortable stories from the residents I have met, some that many know all too well. 

Thanks for reading this and thank you for your donation. If you'd like to join in and raise money for Foodcycle, please see https://www.foodcycle.org.uk/campaigns/holiday-hunger-challenge/.

FoodCycle is a national charity, based upon the simple idea that food waste and food poverty should not co-exist and that something powerful can be achieved through eating together. Every week, we open our doors and give a warm welcome to 1200 guests to enjoy a tasty and nutritious three-course meal in their local community. In July 2018 we are running our Holiday Hunger Challenge to raise awareness of the summer holiday hunger that, sadly, many families experience.