Devon receives £2 million for free school meals

£3 per meal for 15,000 children

A major operation is under way in Devon to combat holiday hunger for children this Christmas.

Devon County Council willt organise networks of providers across the county, using a £2 million government grant  to support vulnerable children and families. Over the next few weeks a range of community kitchens, holiday clubs, charities and businesses will be enlisted to coordinate  support for those who need it. They will ensure that every child entitled to free school meals will get free food over the Christmas holiday, during half-term and the Easter holidays.

Devon’s cabinet member for communities Cllr Roger Croad said: “We envisage that in most areas there will be a range of solutions and options that are geared to meet the needs of their individual communities. These are likely to include holiday clubs providing food, cooking sessions, community meals, offers from local cafes and businesses and community larders.

“Our top priority is to ensure those in receipt of free school meals have enough to eat over the holidays. But we also want to help and support people with wider vulnerabilities.”

Council leader Cllr John Hart added: “This pandemic has been so cruel to so many people. We are aiming to support those families who were suddenly left without money, without a job and without savings as a result of coronavirus."

Nearly 15,000 children in Devon receive free school meals – 15 per cent of the total school population.  At £3 per meal, it would cost £44,322 per day to provide meals to these children. In Torridge, 18 per cent of pupils would be eligible, with 17 per cent in North Devon and Exeter, 15 per cent in Mid Devon and Teignbridge, 14 per cent in West Devon, 13 per cent in East Devon and 12 per cent in the South Hams and of pupils who live in Plymouth but who study at schools in the Devon County Council area.

The government extended free school meals during the Easter holidays earlier this year and, after a campaign by Manchester United and England striker Marcus Rashford, did the same for the summer holiday.

Initially though they refused to do so for October's half-term and the Christmas holidays, before making a U-turn, announcing a winter grant of £400 million to provide support with a food and activities programme.