Council leaders are now asking the government to reconsider their decision on funding free school meals during the Easter holidays. This comes after the government directed the councils and city leaders to fund their own program during the Easter holiday.
Students from disadvantaged children are facing financial hurdles as the coronavirus lockdown continues in England. This has resulted in city leaders calling for the government to address the challenges these students are undergoing.
Council leaders call for government-funded school meals
The call comes after the government indicated its intention of not funding the program over the holidays. The free school feeding program does not operate during the holidays according to the government. However, these are unprecedented times and guardians of these vulnerable students are also undergoing financial strains.
The government directed the council leaders to provide the free school meals during the Easter holidays if they want to, However, they will have to fund the program themselves.
These prompted the mayors and council leaders to write a letter to the government reminding them of the dire situation these vulnerable students are in. The letter reminded the government about the quick lockdown that was implemented and the unpreparedness of parents during this period of lockdown.
They, therefore, requested the government to reconsider its position on funding the school meals. The impact of poverty as a result of the coronavirus and laying off of workers will take a toll on these vulnerable students, the letter stated. Help needed should, therefore, be provided by the government to help mitigate the effects of the lockdown.
Councils considering funding the program
Judith Blake, leader of the Leeds council stated that no young person in England should ever go hungry in the country. She highlighted the difficulties these students are in right now, especially during the Easter holiday, when eligible students will not be able to access the free meals.
She stated that the council was working hard to ensure such a situation does not happen. She said without the government funding, the councils will have to find the food resources themselves but assured the public that the council leaders were working around the clock to ensure a solution was found.
Featured image by Pexel
