Corby Council to fund free meals for kids over half term

No children will go hungry in Corby over the half term break after the council stepped in to fund free lunches.

Corby Council is the first local authority in Northamptonshire to pay for the extension of the free school meals scheme out of their own pocket.

It comes after the Government blocked a bid this week to to provide 1.4m English children with £15-a-week food vouchers during holidays until next Easter, despite a huge campaign from England and Manchester United striker Marcus Rashford who was made an MBE this month.

Now the Labour-run council, in partnership with The Autumn Centre, has organised for free meals to be given to all children that would normally be entitled to free school meals throughout half term from 11am to 2pm between Monday, October 26 and Friday, October 30.

"With the announcement made just before half term and following a year in which families across the country have been hit hard with the economic effects of the pandemic, we felt that it was important to act fast and ensure that our children within Corby don’t go hungry during this half term.

"We would like to thank the Autumn Centre and all of its amazing staff in helping us in providing these meals to those that really need them."

Hot and cold options will be available to children in Corby and its surrounding villages.

Families entitled to free school meals can go to the Autumn Centre in Counts Farm Road any time between 11am and 2pm for their youngsters to receive their lunch.

The council has also organised for a delivery service to be in place for those that can’t travel to the Autumn Centre and this can be provided by calling 01536 264671.

Deputy leader of Corby Council, Cllr Jean Addison, said: "We would like everyone to please spread this message within Corby and ensure that any family with children on free school meals are aware that there is still help available and that their little ones don’t need to go hungry.

"We know just how important these free school meals are to some families and that sometimes they may be the only hot meal that these children will receive that day.

"Especially now when the pandemic has financially hit so many homes, we need to do all we can to make sure that no children in our community go hungry."

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