Trafford Council to offer free meals to children during school holidays

Trafford Council is to provide free meals for thousands of children in the borough during half-term holidays.

The Council has stepped in to back the campaign of Manchester United football star Marcus Rashford who has been urging the government to provide the meals during the break.

However the government ruled out extending free meals nationwide beyond term time following a vote in the House of Commons earlier in the week.
Now council leaders in Trafford have agreed that they will provide vouchers for around 5,000 children across the borough who are entitled to free school meals.

It follows Trafford and Greater Manchester’s move into the toughest coronavirus Tier 3 restrictions which has led to many people fearing how they will cope without free school meals next week.

In Trafford the plan is for parents to receive a £15 Tesco voucher per child for the week and those who are eligible can apply on our website or by calling 0161 912 3265.

It applies to children who attend schools in Trafford even if they live outside of the borough.

Cllr Catherine Hynes, Trafford Council’s Deputy Leader and Executive Member for Children's Social Care, said:

“Coronavirus has impacted on us all but it has hit our families who are struggling to make ends meet at the best of times particularly hard. Marcus Rashford has shone a light on this problem and following the vote in the House of Commons earlier this week not to extend free school meals over the school holidays we felt compelled to act.”

Cllr Karina Carter. Trafford Council’s Lead Member for Education said:

“It is 2020 and we still have children going hungry in this country and that can’t be right. I believe this is the right thing to do and I am sure the people of Trafford will support what we are doing.”

Trafford Council has been working hard since the outbreak of coronavirus to provide help and support for those in its community who need it.

The Council has joined forces with partners to set up Community Response Hubs in the borough to ensure that support was available to anyone isolated or vulnerable in the community, and currently provide everything from food parcels to wellbeing calls.

Posted on Sunday 25th October 2020