Following Central Governments decision to vote against extending free school meals nationally, we call on Medway Council to extend the scheme locally until April 2021 at the least to cover the COVID-19 pandemic.
There has never been a more important time to support families and children. Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, 32% of families have suffered a drop in income. In 2018/19, 9/30 children in any classroom were living in poverty in the U.K. this was and will never be a COVID related problem, COVID has only escalated the issue.
Thousands of local businesses across the U.K. are now supporting their own schemes out of their own budgets even through their own financial struggles, from cafes to chippys to tea rooms to even taxi firms! We have all seen footballer Marcus Rashford’s campaign, but why should we just sit back and watch him fight, this is on our doorsteps. Child hunger should never be faced with looming deadlines.
This is not about politics, this is about doing what’s right.
Other councils have extended the scheme in their local areas to over half term and Christmas holidays: Liverpool, Southwark, Hammersmith & Fulham, Redbridge (As of midday 23/10/20).
The COVID-19 pandemic is here to stay, and unfortunately so is child poverty unless we act.
We urge Medway Council to go further than anyone else has so far, set a national statement, put aside the political fights and think of Medway’s children.
#EndChildFoodPoverty
This ePetition ran from 23/10/2020 to 31/12/2020 and has now finished.
3 people signed this ePetition.