Free school meals on wheels
09 Apr 2020 ARCHIVED (over 3 months old) - view latest news
Schools across Northumberland have been working in partnership with Northumberland County Council to ensure that over 1,800 free school meals care packages were delivered last week to families across Northumberland, with support from the council’s school transport team and local transport firms.
Provision was put in place to ensure that children receiving free school meals would not suffer unnecessarily when schools were closed to all children other than those of key workers or the most vulnerable children.
Cllr Wayne Daley, Deputy Leader and cabinet member for Children’s Services at the council said: “Colleagues in the council’s school meals service have been working closely with schools across the county, to make sure free school meals continue to be provided and ensuring no child goes hungry. This fantastic demonstration of teamwork has seen hundreds of school meals delivered in response to the coronavirus pandemic.
“The work being done in schools across Northumberland has meant that 7,500 children continue to be fed each day - this enormous effort is a combination of free school meals being made for children in school, care packages being delivered and, where schools are not able to provide catering, vouchers being issued to spend at supermarkets. Huge congratulations to everyone involved and a heartfelt thankyou for your ongoing hard work.”
Cath McEvoy-Carr, Executive Director of Adults and Children's Services, said: “We have seen a fantastic response to supporting the delivery of free school meals and I am extremely grateful to all of my colleagues and partners for their efforts.
“The new Government National Free School Meals Voucher Scheme has also been introduced so if your child normally receives free school meals and your school is not currently able to provide them, don’t worry - schools can now provide you with a weekly shopping voucher to spend at supermarkets.”
If you think your child is entitled to free school meals but you are not currently claiming, please call 01670 623592, or apply online:
https://online.northumberland.gov.uk/citizenportal/form.aspx?form=Free_School_Meals