News / Holiday Hunger
Bristol mayor welcomes Government U-turn on free school meals
Marcus Rashford’s emotional account of experiencing poverty growing up will resonate with many Bristolians, says Marvin Rees as he calls for year-round free school meals funding.
Commenting in the wake of a high profile campaign that highlighted the hunger faced by many families unable to afford enough food throughout the summer holidays, the mayor has welcomed a Government U-turn on the issue but says more needs to be done.
In an open letter to MPs, Rashford outline his own experiences of growing up without enough money for food, saying: “The system was not built for families like mine to succeed, regardless of how hard my mum worked.”
is needed now More than ever
The Manchester United and England player continued: “The government has taken a “whatever it takes” approach to the economy – I’m asking you today to extend that same thinking to protecting all vulnerable children across England.
“I encourage you to hear their pleas and find your humanity. Please reconsider your decision to cancel the food voucher scheme over the summer holiday period and guarantee the extension.”
On Tuesday, Boris Johnson caved in to pressure and reversed his decision not to fund food vouchers over the six-week summer holiday. The Prime Minister has said the scheme coming into play for this summer is “a specific measure to reflect the unique circumstances of the pandemic”.
Around 14,500 children in Bristol, and 1.3million across the country, will be eligible for the extension of the free school meals voucher scheme, which is funded by central government and administered by local authorities.
The known cost of the current provision for children in Bristol is around £215,000 per week – with the cost of the six-week summer holiday period estimated to be around £1.3million, according to the council.
Last year, a major, urgent citywide appeal was launched in Bristol to tackle the devastating harm caused by food poverty in the wake of government cuts to projects that – among other things – ensure proper meals are available for low-income families during the six-week break.
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Read more: More than £100,000 raised to prevent Bristol children going hungry
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With the impact of lockdown measures and prolonged school closures taking their toll in the city and a massive surge in people turning to food banks to help, the number of families struggling this summer is set to be higher than ever.
Rees, who has himself spoken out about the challenges he faced growing up, said: “Marcus Rashford has spoken powerfully about the poverty which he experienced growing up in Manchester. This is a story which is familiar to Bristolians, and which many are still living every day.
“While today’s rethink from the Government is welcome, they should take the chance to make free school meal funding permanent all-year-round.
“We will continue working hard to create a Living Wage City, bridge the inequalities which have left too many people behind, and rebuild a better Bristol.”
Mayor Marvin Rees says the Government should take the chance to make free school meal funding permanent all-year-round – photo by CB Bristol Design
He is calling on the Government to make free school meal funding available all-year-round, not just during term time.
Main photo courtesy of Feeding Bristol
Read more: Getting free school meals to children in the midst of coronavirus
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