‘I just feel like we are being treated like the scum of the Earth’ – Mum's anger over food parcel

The food parcel, which was collected from Hetton School on North Road, is to cover the free school meals that children would normally receive.

The mum, who doesn’t want to be named said she she was angry over the contents of the food parcel after she traveled to collect it from her child’s school.

She said: “I had to use public transport to get to and from the school to collect the parcel, which is supposed to be a weeks worth of food.

"If we had the vouchers like last time, I could go out and have the choice to getting my children what they want to eat as when they are at school, they always go for hot meals rather than cold ones.

"I just feel like we are being treated like the scum of the Earth, having the kids at home means that utility bills are already going up without me having to buy extra food on top of that because the free schools meals don’t cover what they should.”

The Government’s Free School Meals allocation to schools is £11.50 per pupil per week but schools can claim an extra £3.50 per week for each eligible pupil receiving lunch parcel provision at home - a total of £15 per child.

However, the mum was left questioning how much had been spent on the parcel that she received.

She added: “It is supposed to be £15 a week but what I received is definitely not £15 worth of food, I would dare say that it is less than £5.”

The Department of Education has moved to return to the voucher scheme after backlash over the meal supply.

Gavin Williamson, Secretary of State for Education said the national voucher scheme for free school meals will relaunch next week, after education leaders, campaigners and MPs called on the Government to roll out the programme urgently.

People will receive an email from by January 14, advising on how to order vouchers during the week commencing January 18.

Councillor Louise Farthing, Sunderland City Council’s cabinet member for children, learning and skills, has said that schools have been distributing meal parcels per the government guidelines.

She said: “Schools that receive the city council’s meals service, including free meals, are distributing food parcels in line with Government guidance.

“Parcels are produced on site and distributed by the school or collected by parents.

“All other schools and academies have been provided with guidance and support to ensure they are meeting the Government requirements.”

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