Haringey Council unequivocally supports Marcus Rashford’s campaign urging the government to feed children over the holidays. We are working in partnership with our schools to make sure this is possible.
We will provide a £15 voucher for the parents of every child in receipt of Free School Meals (FSMs) to cover the October half-term holiday this week (26-30 October).
We will also seek the assistance of schools and our community channels to ensure parents of children receiving FSMs are aware of, and can access, the scheme. Those unable to receive a voucher this week will be able to receive a voucher from their school next week (2-6 November).
We are acutely aware of the financial pressures our residents are facing following 10 years of austerity, the impact of the coronavirus pandemic and the introduction of Tier 2 restrictions.
Furthermore, we are aware that parents with low-paid – or insecure – employment, and those in receipt of benefits, have been the hardest hit.
In Haringey, we have amazing community support. If you, or someone you know, needs to access our Haringey Food Network (including foodbanks), you can find help via this map (external link).
The council is also funding a food network co-ordinator as the pandemic continues to hit some of our least-well off residents the hardest.
Cllr Kaushika Amin, Haringey’s Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Children, Education and Families, said:
The fact that any child should go hungry is a national scandal and I applaud Marcus Rashford for his tireless campaigning, urging the government to feed children over the holidays. In Haringey, we have stepped in to make sure that our children can eat this October half term and we are working with our schools to provide a £15 voucher to parents of every child who receives Free School Meals. Through our schools and community contacts, we are reaching out to support as many children in need as we possibly can. We know this pandemic – on top of a decade of government austerity – continues to hit our least well-off residents the hardest. We continue to join other London boroughs in calling on the Government to keep to its word and fund local government appropriately amid the pandemic. I want to thank the community for their inspiring response over the last few days, with offers of help coming in from so many places. In partnership with our community networks, there is help available in Haringey – visit our website for more information.
If you need support or advice, please call the Connected Communities helpline on: 020 8489 4431.
From food and financial assistance to mental health support and help to stay active, there is assistance available on our Haringey Together pages.
