Calderdale praises Government's decision to cough up £170m in U-turn on free school meals

It comes after Prime Minister Boris Johnson last week phoned Manchester United’s Marcus Rashford, who spearheaded the free school meals campaign, to alert him the decision to lay on £170 million extra funding.

The cash will introduce the Covid Winter Grant Scheme to support families over the season, which Steve Duncan, CEO of the Community Foundation for Calderdale (CFFC), said is ‘welcome’.

He said: “Any support from Governnment is welcome. We’ll continue to mobilise support for those most in need.”

In response to national calls to extend free school meals beyond term times, organisations and individuals across Calderdale and the country are rallying to help, donating food and money to support the most disadvantaged children.

Calderdale Council, the CFFC, Piece Hall Trust and other partner organisations throughout the borough launched the Never Hungry Again campaign.

Since the introduction of the campaign, the CFFC has seen donations of £18,000, which have been match-funded to a total of £36,000.

“We’ll continue to match-fund until past Christmas, depending on resources,” said Mr Duncan.

“We’re working with a huge range of charity organisations supporting families in Calderdale, and working hard so no one needs to be worried around the Christmas period.”

Noah’s Ark, in Ovenden Road, Halifax, and Focus4Hope, in Thornton Square, Brighouse, are just a few organisations working with the CFFC to help communities with food shortages over the colder months.

Andrew Sykes, from Noah’s Ark, said foodbanks are collaberating with the CFFC to introduce projects including a 10-week cooking-on-a-budget and healthy-eating program supporting low-income families.

Mr Sykes said: “Noah’s Ark reinvented itself as a food bank providing food parcels and ready-made frozen meals.”

Families have been given a ready-made meal with ingredients needed. Included are recipe cards to make the meal for four people and batch-cook 20 portions.