Sunderland firm ScS to donate 10,000 meals for children in need after free school meal vote

In a statement on Friday, October 23 the company confirmed that it has donated £20,000 to Together for Children to fund meals for youngsters in need on Wearside.

The money – given to families by way of a £10 Asda voucher for a week’s worth of school meal equivalents – will pay for an estimated 10,000 meals for the city’s most underprivileged families.

Together for Children works on behalf of Sunderland City Council to deliver children's services in the city.

Jill Colbert, Chief Executive at Together for Children, confirmed in a statement that more than 8,500 children receive free school meals across Sunderland's primary and secondary schools.

She said: “We are incredibly grateful to ScS for their generous donation of £20,000, which will provide meals to vulnerable children in our city.

“Currently, more than 8,500 children receive free school meals across primary and secondary schools in Sunderland.

"The provision of free school meals is a vital resource to families in our city, who rely on their children receiving a free school meal during term time; however, their circumstances don’t change when the school term ends, and they still need support during the school holidays.

“The donation will provide more than 10,000 meals to families in need over the next week. ScS Sunderland are making a huge contribution to ensure the health and wellbeing of children, young people and families and their donation will truly make a difference.

“I’d also like to extend a thank you to The Link School and Headteacher, Donna Walker, who will work Together for Children and schools across the city to identify the most vulnerable families and ensure they receive this support.”

MPs this week rejected a bid from the Labour Party, backed by England and Manchester United footballer Marcus Rashford, to extend free school meals over the school holidays until Easter 2021.

In the wake of the vote – which took place on Wednesday, October 21 and saw five Conservative MPs rebel against their party to support the motion – Rashford vowed to continue campaigning to keep vulnerable children fed.

He has since highlighted cafes, bars, restaurants and other organisations volunteering to help the cause across the country in a thread of tweets to his 3.6million followers.

The footballer both named locations offering free school meals and recognised councils which have pledged to support children through other schemes.

Twenty-two-year-old Rashford was recently awarded an MBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours for campaigning efforts that prompted a Government U-turn on the subject of school meals this summer.

David Knight, CEO of ScS, added: “It’s been an incredibly difficult year for everyone, but some families have been hit harder than others.

“Here at ScS, we are dedicated to helping families in need and ahead of October half term, we hope our donation will go some way to helping to feed our city’s most vulnerable children.

"Together for Children does an incredible job and its services are more crucial now than ever before.”

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