North Hertfordshire school addresses localised poverty

Two years on from their school fundraiser for local charity ‘Feed Up, Warm Up’, North Hertfordshire school Head Teacher Phillipa Smith is reflecting on the importance of tackling local poverty in affluent areas.

The Covid-19 economic crisis is leaving more people across the UK vulnerable to poverty with over 120,000 children in the UK are living in poverty.

Headteacher of Hartsfield JMI school, Phillipa Smith, is on a mission to make the more fortunate children and families of the school,  more open-minded about local people living in poverty.

She said: “We are very fortunate and if you’re fortunate you are in a position to help others”.

Phillipa’s work with the school has been welcomed by parents and the wider community.

In 2019, Hartsfield JMI school raised £500 to the ‘feed up warm up’ charity which was founded by a local man from the nearby Stevenage.

Phillipa’s approach to tackling the poverty crisis begins with engaging both the children and their parents on issues which may not necessarily affect them.