Free school meals may not be enough for district's families, MP warns

Hemsworth MP Jon Trickett has said that free school meals may not be enough to stop children in Wakefield from going without food.
Hemsworth MP Jon Trickett has said that free school meals may not be enough to stop children in Wakefield from going without food.Hemsworth MP Jon Trickett has said that free school meals may not be enough to stop children in Wakefield from going without food.
Hemsworth MP Jon Trickett has said that free school meals may not be enough to stop children in Wakefield from going without food.

Footballer Marcus Rashford made headlines last week when he successfully campaigned for the UK Government to backtrack on plans to bring an end to free school meals in holidays.

Almost 1.3 million schoolchildren will benefit from the decision to provide meal vouchers through the holidays, including an estimated 10,000 Wakefield pupils - around one in seven of the district's schoolchildren.

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But Hemsworth MP Jon Trickett has now said he believes the scheme will not be enough to support families who have been pushed into "tough circumstances" by the coronavirus crisis.

He said: "I welcome the decision to provide Free School Meals over the summer to all kids who are eligible.

"Most kids who qualify for this scheme have parents in employment, working hard, but in low paid, insecure jobs.

"It is worrying to note that 48,800 workers have been furloughed across the Wakefield district. This is 1 in 5 of our area’s total workforce.

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"As the Government wind down this scheme, many jobs could fall by the wayside, pushing more families into tough circumstances who could struggle to feed their kids over summer.

"The Government must consider this and provide families with the support they need.”