Charity KidsCan has seen a "worrying increase" in school children urgently waiting on food, clothing and health support.
The organisation reported the highest number of poverty-stricken students on its wait list in three years.
Some students have arrived back at school for the start of the year without food, and charities are struggling to keep up with an increasing number of parents and schools needing help.
A group of 15 children from KidsCan partner school St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School in Grey Lynn have had a fun-filled day out joining some of their Blues heroes at specially arranged afternoon training session.
KidsCan Portal 
