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Sharon Hodgson, MP for Washington and Sunderland West and Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for School Food, is lending her support to the Make Rio Count National Fun Day, which takes place today.

The national day aims to highlight the good work of schools, charities, councils and others helping make provisions for children to get good food and free activities in the school holidays and will coincide with the global nutrition summit in Rio, the day before the Olympics starts.

Hodgson said: “The Government cannot attend this vital international conference and call for hunger to be addressed across the world, and not do anything to address it on our own doorstep.

“With evidence continuing to show that children return to school after the summer holidays malnourished and have fallen behind their more affluent peers in terms of their education, along with the rising use of food banks during the summer holidays, then it is high-time the Government did something about this.

“The government’s rhetoric on addressing hunger globally is welcome but inaction here in the UK cannot continue as it is detrimental to the future and the life chances of our children. That is why rhetoric on hunger in other countries must be replicated here in the UK and I hope that this national fun day can take us one step closer to seeing the Government finally address this important issue.”

The Make Rio Count fun day is targeting a new vision for food and nutrition security in the UK, which delivers healthy, affordable sustainable diets for all. Also, a targeted package to improve the life-chances of women and children most at risk of a poor diet.