Manchester United forward Marcus Rashford has called on the UK government to do a U-turn on its decision not to extend the free meals scheme to children whose families could otherwise afford to feed them without much-needed support. Can’t be.
During school terms, struggling families can claim free meals to ensure their children are fed during the day. For many, this may be the only time a child has a chance to eat a proper meal each day.
“I had to go through the same system once.”
In a TV special with #BBCBreakfast @MarcusRashford explains why he is calling for a U-turn on England’s decision to end free school meal vouchers during the summer. #maketheUturn
More here: https://t.co/xcqAUyYuTy pic.twitter.com/tTYN6j18El
— BBC Breakfast (@BBCBreakfast) June 15, 2020
The impact of the coronavirus pandemic as job cuts strike will make it harder for people to feed their children, but the government has chosen not to extend the school food voucher scheme over the summer holidays.
Rashford, who has already worked with food distribution charity FareShare to raise £20m to cover the shortfall during school closures, has urged the government to ‘all in Parliament. In a compelling letter to Members of Parliament’, reconsider.
United, 22, recalls some of his memories of growing up and his family needing support from schemes such as breakfast clubs and free school meals, as well as the kind help of neighbors and coaches, no matter how much his mother did. He worked hard.
An open letter to all MPs in Parliament…#maketheUturn
Please retweet and tag your local MPs pic.twitter.com/GXuUxFJdcv
— Marcus Rashford (@MarcusRashford) June 14, 2020
“My mom worked full-time, earning minimum wage, to make sure we always had a good dinner on the table, but it wasn’t enough. That system was the way families like mine were able to succeed. was not made for, regardless of how hard my mother worked,” he wrote.
“Food banks and soup kitchens were no stranger to us,” Rashford said, adding that he still vividly remembers the trip every year to collect Christmas dinner.
An estimated 200,000 children have had to go without food as their families have struggled to access food during the coronavirus lockdown. Rashford says he would have been among those kids 10 years ago.
Families claiming free school meals are able to claim vouchers worth £15 per child per week while schools are closed, but Rashford explained that one of the 1.3 million children registered for free school meals A fourth has no support since the schools. were closed.
In 2018/19, figures show that an average of nine children in every classroom of 30 are living in poverty, with the number expected to rise to a total of one million by 2022. Black and ethnic minority groups live in poverty.
Rashford has already raised almost £20m with food distribution charity FareShare/PAUL ELLIS/Getty Images.
This is not about politics. It’s about humanity,” he stressed. “Looking at ourselves in the mirror and realizing that we did everything we could to protect those who, for whatever reason or circumstance, could not protect themselves. can do Political affiliations aside, can’t we all agree that no child should go to bed hungry?
Rashford is calling on the government to extend the same ‘whatever it takes’ approach to the economy to “…protect all vulnerable children across England. And encourage you to find your humanity. Please reconsider your decision to cancel the food voucher scheme during the summer holidays and guarantee an extension.
“Make a U-turn and make protecting the lives of the most vulnerable a top priority.”
Honestly, imagine supporting a team this guy doesn’t play for. I can never be. pic.twitter.com/OpavljLvmE
— Scott Patterson (@R_o_M) June 14, 2020
In an interview with the BBC, Rashford said of the letter, “It’s written from the heart and it’s about what my life was like at the time – to open the letter and make people understand the impact on families and that To know that I do the right thing.
“What families are going through right now, I’ve been through it once – and it’s very difficult to find a way out. It’s very important to me to help people who are struggling. Regardless of the outcome. To change or not to change – that’s why I wrote.
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