News

Marcus Rashford is helping feed London’s children

Child food poverty in London: where to find help with half-term meals

Written by

Global film editorTuesday 27 October 2020

Facebook Twitter Pinterest Email WhatsApp

Advertising

One of the most heartwarming stories of these difficult months has been spearheaded by footballer and national hero Marcus Rashford. His ongoing campaign to make sure that the austerity caused by the pandemic doesn’t deprive children of a square meal has gathered pace, with numerous local authorities lending their support – and some for this week’s half-term.

‘This is not politics, this is humanity,’ tweeted Rashford, who has fought to keep his campaign apolitical. His message is that six months of lockdown has left children from families living below the poverty line short of basic needs – and that urgent help is needed to fill the gap over the half-term break.

A parliamentary motion to provide 1.4 million disadvantaged children with food vouchers was defeated last week, but local authorities and businesses around the country have stepped in to lend their support. The London councils that will be providing vouchers or meals are listed below.

Brent Council:

We will provide a £15 food voucher to parents of eligible children this half term.

No child should have to go hungry and we are proud to support @MarcusRashford. #EndChildFoodPoverty https://t.co/LUfpo3Ipvb pic.twitter.com/vtphzpO8E2
— Brent Council (@Brent_Council) October 23, 2020

Greenwich Council:

Although the government aren’t providing free school meals for kids during school holidays, we’re still offering support. We’re serving free, nutritious meals to kids this #halfterm. Find the nearest location and times near you here https://t.co/Yoi0Ej7yUx #FreeSchoolMeals pic.twitter.com/fkL066XIle
— Royal Greenwich (@Royal_Greenwich) October 23, 2020

Hackney Council:

No child should go hungry this-half term.

We're proud to support @MarcusRashford's campaign, and we'll step in where the Government has stepped out.

Details for families on how to access vouchers 👇#ENDCHILDFOODPOVERTY https://t.co/h6KWrzUIcf
— Hackney Council (@hackneycouncil) October 23, 2020

Hammersmith & Fulham Council:

We're giving every pupil in need free meal vouchers over the half term break. That's to ensure 5,000 primary and secondary school pupils don't go hungry. Plus, we're delivering 600 breakfasts every morning to pupils. #ENDCHILDFOODPOVERTY https://t.co/4ZbJVqfM2i
— H&F Council (@LBHF) October 22, 2020

Lambeth Council:

Hi, thanks for getting in touch regarding this. Please see our announcement here: https://t.co/Dph8ox5pda regarding this. Thanks
— Lambeth Council (@lambeth_council) October 23, 2020

Redbridge Council:

If the government will not feed hungry children, this London Borough will.

Despite the austerity imposed on us, @RedbridgeLive will fund school lunches for all children in need over the half term & Christmas holidays.

No child will be hungry in Redbridge.#ENDCHILDFOODPOVERTY pic.twitter.com/RIE585Uz9b
— Councillor K Chowdhury (@khayerc) October 22, 2020

Richmond Council:

NEWFLASH: Following the #Government failure to agree #FreeSchoolMeals for hard-pressed families over #HalfTerm – we have just announced that we will fund a voucher scheme! Updates on eligibility to follow! https://t.co/ST2GLk0rLi pic.twitter.com/XpACGF9aft
— Richmond Council (@LBRUT) October 23, 2020

Southwark Council:

Delighted to say @lb_southwark will fund free school meals this half term

It's the decision the Government should have made yesterday, since they've failed we're stepping in today to help #ENDCHILDFOODPOVERTY

We've just written to all schools with full details@MarcusRashford
— Cllr Kieron Williams (@kieronjwilliams) October 22, 2020

Brent Council:

We will provide a £15 food voucher to parents of eligible children this half term.

No child should have to go hungry and we are proud to support @MarcusRashford. #EndChildFoodPoverty https://t.co/LUfpo3Ipvb pic.twitter.com/vtphzpO8E2
— Brent Council (@Brent_Council) October 23, 2020

Hounslow Council:

Hounslow Council https://t.co/Sf3MX4sMX9
— Marcus Rashford MBE (@MarcusRashford) October 24, 2020

And these brilliant London businesses are stepping up to supply fresh meals and packed lunches this week, too:

📍London Fields pic.twitter.com/uFEkRkRK4I
— Marcus Rashford MBE (@MarcusRashford) October 25, 2020

📍Kew https://t.co/80KLKdu2sy
— Marcus Rashford MBE (@MarcusRashford) October 23, 2020

📍Tooting pic.twitter.com/1VoY9VIcXf
— Marcus Rashford MBE (@MarcusRashford) October 23, 2020

I’m Grateful 2 @MarcusRashford who took t initiative & @Jemima_Khan who RT & backed up t campaign [I picked up frm J’s RT]-@usamaLondon

Honoured 2 b part of it 1/2#ENDCHILDFOODPOVERTY
Tooting's Meat and Shake 2offer free school lunches during half term https://t.co/HOhMKdm9iN
— MeatandShake (@MeatandShake) October 24, 2020

@MarcusRashford I don’t know if you’ve seen this but a great family bakery in Tower Hamlets offering free meals to families in need @MarcusRashford #FreeSchoolMeals pic.twitter.com/ggjOxRzLZl
— Anais Crane (@AnaisCrane) October 25, 2020

We stand with @MarcusRashford! #ENDCHILDFOODPOVERTY It has never been more important to ensure no child is ever left hungry. We will proudly serve and support our community 💜🖤 pic.twitter.com/GyJWnFtIKy
— The Kitchen (@TheKitchenmkpl) October 25, 2020

We are joining @MarcusRashford and hundreds of other Restaurants around the country and pledging 1000 free Rice Error meals for Children this half term.
Available to pickup at BAO Soho, Borough, Netil Market. 50 free meals a day from each restaurant. pic.twitter.com/FGvqgPKHV2
— BAO Official (@bao_london) October 24, 2020

📍London pic.twitter.com/7TZRSoa54C
— Marcus Rashford MBE (@MarcusRashford) October 24, 2020

Hi @MNetIslington please can you retweet this. Next week for local kids 100 hot meals a day @MarcusRashford pic.twitter.com/TqOnGTg5qm
— Lucy Quick (@Lucy_Quick) October 25, 2020

No child should ever go hungry. If you usually get free school meals then please contact us at info@bokicoffee.com and we'll prepare a healthy lunch box for you.#FreeSchoolMeals #NoChildGoesHungry @MarcusRashford @BoxparkWembley @WembleyParkLDN pic.twitter.com/nkjVptLVZU
— Boki (@Bokicoffee) October 25, 2020

View this post on Instagram

KIDS EAT FREE THIS HALF TERM Anyone in need of a free meal for their children can come get pizza from @thisisacepizza at the pub this half term, no questions asked. Eat in or takeaway from 4pm til 6pm. Please share and help us get word out to the families of Hackney! We'll also be donating £1 from every pizza sold this week to @HackneyFoodbank to help support their work in our community feeding people in need 💚

A post shared by Pembury Tavern (@pemburytavern) on Oct 26, 2020 at 4:39am PDT

𝙎𝙪𝙥𝙥𝙤𝙧𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙊𝙪𝙧 𝘾𝙤𝙢𝙢𝙪𝙣𝙞𝙩𝙮 👋

It's been a busy first day of our free meals initiative with club volunteers delivering food to over 45 local kids today!

Also great to have @AFP at the club interviewing @DomPalacio.

💛❤️🖤#ThisIsRichmond #RichmondFamily pic.twitter.com/zV5gUjWKyH
— Richmond Rugby (@RichmondFC1861) October 26, 2020

We at Dough Bakehouse stand with @MarcusRashford and the campaign to #ENDCHILDFOODPOVERTY

We will be offering a free lunch to anyone who quotes "RASHFORD" in our bakeries 🙌

Drop by Herne Hill or Beckenham and quote "RASHFORD" between 12 and 2pm (Mon-Fri)! 💕 pic.twitter.com/tRd7bGi3F5
— Carina (@carinalepore) October 26, 2020

View this post on Instagram

No questions asked just come and pick up a free kids packed lunch... #freeschoolmeals #endchildpoverty

A post shared by The Duke of Richmond (@thedukeofrichmond) on Oct 26, 2020 at 4:12am PDT

View this post on Instagram

FREE KIDS PACK LUNCH - In light of recent events, we will be showing our support to the community this half term 26th-30th October by providing a free pack lunch for those in need. Lunches will available to collect between 12-1pm at Joanna’s and will include: Cheese & pickle sandwich Crisps Piece of fruit Yoghurt Chocolate Juice We will make 50 a day Monday - Friday so do make sure to arrive early. Please feel free to spread the word 🙏🏽🙂

A post shared by Joanna's Restaurant (@joannas_1978) on Oct 25, 2020 at 1:59am PDT

The government can say no to school dinners for kids that need it, but we can’t.

From Mon - Frid this half term we will be offering a free takeaway lunch to any child that is in need.

If you are a parent or if you know someone that needs help this half term, please DM/call us. pic.twitter.com/kDhHKwFFwZ
— The Schoolhouse (@SchoolhouseLDN) October 25, 2020

View this post on Instagram

This week (from tomorrow), throughout the October school holidays, we’re joining @marcusrashford and the hundreds of restaurants across the country in a stand to #endchildfoodpoverty. We’ll be offering vegetarian pasta from 12-6pm to any child who needs it. Just pop in and let our team know you’re here for ‘Half Term Holidays’ and they’ll sort you out, no questions asked.

A post shared by Albie (@albielondon) on Oct 26, 2020 at 5:25am PDT

View this post on Instagram

RIGHT, NICE.. AND JUST RELAX INTO IT. NICE, AND HOLD THAT. JUST RELAX.. STAY AS YOU ARE, THATS GREAT. CHIN UP SLIGHTLY, LOOKING TO THE LEFT, JUST TRY TO RELAX WILL. REALLY APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY WITH @timeoutlondon AND THANK YOU FOR THE MESSAGES. THIS IS MAD. 5 FREE PIES FOR FAMILIES IN NEED THIS HALF TERM. COLLECTION FROM @meatlovebutcher THURSDAY DM ME OR EMAIL IN THE BIO TO RESERVE. MENU BEEF SHIN, OXTAIL & @peckhamcellars NATTY RED (ALMATE TEMPRANILLO, ALFREDO MAESTRO) CAVLO NERO, CHARRED CABBAGE, FETA & RICOTTA WELSH RAREBIT 220G PLUM & PISTACHIO TREACLE TART 150 PIES. PHONE LINES ARE NOW OPEN. WEBSITE IN THE BIO TO ORDER. ALL DELIVERIES THURSDAY. PICK UP FROM @marmelo_kitchen THURSDAY/FRIDAY. LOOK AT ME NOW MISS. MARTIN.

A post shared by Will Lewis (@willys_pies) on Oct 27, 2020 at 5:06am PDT

‘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,’ Rashford tweeted on Thursday night.

Follow or contribute to the campaign on Twitter via the hashtag #ENDCHILDFOODPOVERTY. You can also donate to FareShare London here.

Shelter to put on the ‘UK’s biggest virtual carol concert’ this Christmas.

Bonfire Night is pretty much cancelled in London.

Been there, done that? Think again, my friend.

By entering your email address you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and consent to receive emails from Time Out about news, events, offers and partner promotions.

🙌
Awesome, you're subscribed!

Thanks for subscribing! Look out for your first newsletter in your inbox soon!