Ahead of next week’s half-term, the Leader of Lambeth Council has announced that Lambeth council will be providing free school meals to all school children in the borough who need them during the school holiday. He says:

"At a time when there is deep concern about the continued economic impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, many of us have been deeply inspired by the national campaign to end child food poverty led by the footballer Marcus Rashford MBE.

I was really disappointed this week that the Government refused to support plans to give all children who need it free meals over the school holidays. Lambeth will continue to step up and plug gaps in support for our community just as we have throughout this pandemic.

We will ensure every child who needs it gets free school meals for half term next week. Our schools provide a vital safety net for many struggling families,  but we know that gaps remain in that safety net in particular during school holidays.

Vouchers will be distributed to over 10,000 children by the council via schools. The programme builds on the council’s existing work to provide summer programmes that ensure children have access to healthy food and activities during the summer holidays. Alleviating holiday hunger is a key part of tackling child poverty – and the desire to ensure such inequalities no longer exist in our communities is what drives this council.

While I will continue to lobby the government for a national programme to fund this, it is right that we are taking this step to support local families. And we will continue to do all we can to end child poverty, and food poverty, in Lambeth. I know many Lambeth residents are keen to do what they can to ensure this is a reality too – and therefore I would encourage those who can afford it to join me in giving what they can to the Lambeth Foodbank Fund."