An estimated three million children face hunger during the summer months when schools are not in session. To mitigate this situation holiday clubs have formed across the United Kingdom (UK). Research investigating holiday hunger and its impact on childhood hunger is in its infancy. As a result, some local governments and third sector organisations have called for the establishment of a central government funded programme to mitigate the impact of school holidays on childhood hunger. The absence of well-designed empirical research into holiday hunger policy is apparent. For instance, the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Hunger emphasised that there is a substantial need for additional 'robust' academically oriented research to inform and guide the future development of holiday clubs and holiday club policy across the UK. The successful PhD applicant will address this gap in the literature by building on previous research at Northumbria University to gain a better understanding of the condition of holiday hunger and the role of holiday clubs in attenuating hunger and poverty. The student will be supported by colleagues working in Northumbria’s prestigious Healthy Living Lab.
Deadline for applications: Friday 24 January 2020
Start Date: 1 October 2020