End Child Food Poverty: Wakefield businesses offer food to families in need as part of Marcus Rashford's campaign

This week MPs voted against extending a scheme to provide free school meals during the holidays.

Wakefield's Imran Ahmad Khan and Morley and Outwood's Andrea Jenkyns were among 322 MPs to vote against the bill on Wednesday.

Since the vote, footballer Marcus Rashford has begun sharing the details of groups across the country who are volunteering their time and food to support his campaign to end child food poverty.

And Wakefield's businesses have wasted no time in stepping up to the mark.

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Community project The Real Junk Food Project, who use food which has passed its best but is still in a safe condition to eat, have promised to continue their work with local schools throughout the holidays.

Staff at The Yorkshire Deli, based on Northgate, have also promised to do their best to help out those in need, offering food donations to families and charities facing crisis.

In a Facebook post, the team said: "We don't want to bring politics into our feed - and we've held back with recent decisions but, we wanted to take this moment to reach out to any local charities, schools, teachers and even individuals who may be struggling on the back of the government's decision to not support the free meals for kids over the holidays.

"322 MPs may not care, but we do.

"This isn't about politics or virtue signalling, this is about having basic human decency to ensure that no child should go hungry - especially when we are the world's sixth-richest nation.

"Our business is happy to help any way we can, without judgement or making assumptions about circumstances. So drop us a line if you need help or if you know of any charity that we can help support at this time."

Councillor Maureen Tennant-King, who represents Featherstone, has also launched a Holiday Pitstop service, promising free packed lunches for children aged up to 16 over half term.

Deliveries will take place in Featherstone, Purston, Ackton and Streethouse on Monday, October 26 and Thursday, October 29.

Councillors for Crofton, Ryhill and Walton have launched a similar service offering free lunches on Tuesday, October 27 and Friday, October 30.

Gift and coffee shop Polly's Mixtures are also promising picnic packs for families struggling to make ends meet over the holiday.

Normanton-based Vicki's Cups and Cakes, is also asking for donations to help put together lunch packs for children in need, which can be collected on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.

Brazilian grill Estabulo has promised to provide 100 meals a day over the half term break.

In a Facebook post, the restaurant said: "In response to the government’s refusal to provide free school meals during the half term holidays, we here at Estabulo Rodizio Bar & Grill, Fleur Café & Casa Peri Peri are pledging 15,000 healthy meals for all children within our communities.

"The healthy meals will consist of grilled chicken served with fresh vegetables and potatoes to provide our children with nutritious meals. They can be refrigerated for up to 3 days.

"We will be preparing 100 meals a day at each of our 10 sites to provide 1000 meals every day for 15 days during the half term break. These will be available to collect from our reception areas between 4-5pm daily starting from Monday 26th October through to Monday 9th November.

"Please don’t feel embarrassed to take these meals. We want to make sure they are going to be used. Please feel free to come in and take what you need, no questions asked.

"Any meals not used will be donated to local charities to ensure that those who need our help most receive it."

Do you know any other businesses or groups who are helping out this half term? Let us know on Facebook.