The government has refused to fund free school meals to disadvantaged children over the half-term break despite footballer Marcus Rashford’s campaign to end child food poverty in England. Voice of London publishes a map of cafes, restaurants, and individual boroughs offering free meals for children.
As a child, Rashford had to listen to his mother crying herself to sleep at the end of a 14-hour workday, worrying about how she was going to feed her family. Rashford benefited from free school meals, as did Mayor of London Sadiq Khan, and millions of others across the country. Following a campaign for free school meals, Rashford has taken to Twitter to share services available across the country during the October half-term break.
Blown away by news of local businesses stepping up to fill the voucher scheme deficit during the October half term. Selflessness, kindness, togetherness, this is the England I know 🏴
Add #ENDCHILDFOODPOVERTY to your tweets so I can track them. I will share as many as I can ♥️
— Marcus Rashford MBE (@MarcusRashford) October 22, 2020
Across at least 18 boroughs of London, businesses are showing their support by offering free meals for families living in London during the holidays.
[googlemaps https://www.google.com/maps/d/embed?mid=1Qz1pt0WlgC0p-Q_HTPMPaw8B2q5hdrII&w=640&h=480]
Words: Arwa Nadeem | Subbing: Bethan Adams