Marcus Rashford wants public support to children going hungry

Marcus Rashford MBE urges the public to support petition to stop children going hungry Credit: PA

England International and Manchester United star, Marcus Rashford MBE has launched a petition calling on the Government to support vulnerable children.

The petition wants Ministers to commit to implement 3 recommendations from the National Food Strategy:

  • Expansion of free school meals to every child from a household on Universal Credit or equivalent, reaching an additional 1.5million 7-16 year olds

  • Expansion of holiday provision (food and activities) to support all children on free school meals, reaching an additional 1.1million children

  • Increasing the value of the Healthy Start vouchers to £4.25 per week (from £3.10) and expanding into all those on Universal Credit or equivalent, reaching an additional 290,000 pregnant women and children under the age of 4

The #endchildfoodpoverty campaign is supported by the Child Food Poverty Task Force which was formed by Marcus Rashford and 20 charities and key names in the food industry. 

Food insecurity includes:

  • Having to eat less and make food last longer because of lack of money to buy more (6%

  • Parents not eating because there wasn’t enough food at home (5%)

  • Children being hungry but not eating to avoid using up food at home (4%)

  • Not eating a proper meal due to lack of money for food (4%)

  • Eating at a friend’s house because there wasn’t enough food at home (3%).