The BBC reports that footballer Marcus Rashford “couldn’t be more proud… ” of the community response to his campaign to get free school meals for children during the half-term holiday.
Councils and businesses have offered to provide food during the break for those who are entitled to free school meals. Councils from both sides of the political divide have agreed to supply vouchers for pupils including those in Manchester, Birmingham and Kensington and Chelsea.
Hillingdon Council, the local authority for Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s constituency of Uxbridge and South Ruislip, said it will be offering free school meals to eligible children during half term.
The England striker was “overwhelmed” by the support.
It comes after a Labor bid to extend free meals during the Covid-19 pandemic was rejected by MPs.
After a campaign led by Rashford earlier this year, the government changed its policy to allow 1.3 million children in England claim free school meal vouchers during the summer holidays.
But the government ruled out extending free meals nationwide beyond term time, saying it has given councils £63m for families facing financial difficulties due to pandemic restrictions, as well as increasing welfare support by £9.3 billion.
In Scotland and Wales, the governments have extended free meals during school holidays until Easter 2021, while in Northern Ireland they will be provided over the half-term break this month.
