Lots of local businesses are getting involved to feed children over the break.
Councillor Ian Ward has today announced that Birmingham City council will provide food vouchers for around 61,000 children on free school meals over the half term holiday next week.
After a parliamentary vote, which saw the majority of MPs vote against providing free school meal vouchers for the poorest children, the local authority decided to step in to offer these vital vouchers for families in the city.
This action has been inspired by Manchester United footballer Marcus Rashford who campaigned for a school meal voucher scheme during lockdown and to now extend this for the half term holiday. With this announcement from Councillor Ian Ward, will mean 61,000 children will have these vouchers over the half term break.
As the campaign continues to grow, more businesses are getting involved – each pledging to give free meals in the form of either grab bags or lunch dishes to prevent children going hungry over the October break.
Marcus Rashford and his family have also continued their hard work this week, too, personally providing a helping hand at the FareShare food bank’s brand new depot in Greater Manchester.
The council joins a host of generous local businesses who have offered help, food packs and meals to the thousands of families struggling to put food on the table.
With the city under Tier 2 lockdown restrictions, and a lower government furlough in place, thousands more families are struggling to make ends meet and many are fearing how they will cope without free school meals next week.
There is a map to show all the the places that are offering food for hungry children in the school holidays here.