Locals step up to feed youngsters over half-term

Local businesses, groups and organisations are offering free meals for school children during the October half-term this week. 

It comes after Conservative MPs - including High Peak's Robert Largan - voted against a motion in the House of Commons last week to extend free school meals for pupils in England into the holidays up to Easter 2021. 

Manchester United and England footballer Marcus Rashford's online petition calling to expand access to free school meals, provide meals and activities during school holidays, and increase the value of and expand the Healthy Start voucher scheme has been signed by more than 800,000 people.   

Such is the fantastic community spirit that exists in Glossopdale and the High Peak, kind-hearted people have generously stepped up to support Rashford's campaign to end child food poverty and ensure youngsters won't go hungry during this holiday period. 

These are the establishments who have said they are helping out... 

People of Whitfield 

People of Whitfield will be providing free packed lunches for school children over the half-term holiday. 

The lunch bags will be available for collection from Pure Vibes centre on Ebenezer Street between 11.30am and 12.30pm from Monday to Friday. 

Anyone interested is asked to let People of Whitfield know in advance how many lunches they'll be collecting, along with any special requirements, by texting 07474 476970. 

People of Whitfield say they would like to thank Mettricks, Asda and Tesco for their support with this project. 

Dolly's Cafe in Hadfield

The cafe on Station Road will be giving out packed lunches between 10am and 12pm Monday to Friday. Each one will include a sandwich, drink, crisps and a piece of fruit. 

Dolly's Cafe thanks fellow Hadfield business Flair Rugs for supplying the funds to make it possible. 

Glossopdale Foodbank  

Glossopdale Foodbank are offering free packed lunches for children in need over the half term holiday.

Glossopdale Foodbank, with support from Old Glossop Cricket Club and I’ll Do Tea, will be offering free packed lunches consisting of a sandwich, drink, biscuit and fruit in a grab bag to any child who needs a lunch.

The packed lunches are available from Hadfield Children's Centre, Queen's Street, Hadfield SK13 2DW on Tuesday 27 and Thursday 29 - and Glossop Children's Centre, off Victoria Street, Glossop SK13 8HZ on Wednesday 26 October.

Any parent or carer that needs a lunch for their child/children can just turn up.

The Italian in Glossop 

The restaurant on High Street West are offering a free packed lunch to anybody who needs one. 

It will be a daily variation - with Monday's offer penne pasta in either a tomato or bolognese sauce, a soft drink, a piece of fruit and a slice of cake.

The restaurant said on Facebook: "As we are all more than aware, times are tough at the moment and with the government's recent decision not to support the free meals for school children, we have also decided to step in and help!

"Please drop us a message in private if you need to take advantage of this little helping hand." 

People can pick up meals between 12pm and 12.30pm. 

The restaurant added: "We would like to give a massive thanks to Colebarn Developments, Dave Barnes and Mat Jones from Glossop market fruit and veg stall for their very kind offers to donate to help us do this. We are very lucky to have such a good community spirit in Glossop." 

The Surrey Arms in Glossop 

The pub on Victoria Street is offering a free packed lunch to anyone who needs one. This will include a sandwich, crisps, fruit, yoghurt and drink. 

They said anyone who wants one should drop a message to their Facebook page and they will be more than happy to help. 

G52 in Gamesley 

The group will be providing family food bags and are inviting people to collect them on Wednesday (28 October).

In addition, in partnership with High Peak Borough Council and Andy from The Chippy on Winster Mews, they will be providing child portion vouchers to receive a hot meal from The Chippy. Parents can collect the vouchers on Thursday and Friday from the G52 Hub. 

Tintwistle Athletic Football Club 

The grassroots football club is offering all children and parents in their area a free packed lunch if it helps them. 

The club said: "This is open to all our communities, we are part of you and you are part of us. All we would ask is that you let us know as soon as possible how many lunch bags you require so we can prepare them for you. 

"Our West Drive Football Centre will be open from 9am to 11am every day for you to collect and we will also provide you with a complimentary tea or coffee when you call in. 

"We would like to thank Councillor Rob Baker and Carmel for helping make this possible. 

"Please just send your name, day of the week and number of bags required. You can either direct message our club Facebook page, text 07950 359879 or email jillcrossland@outlook.com." 

Hollingworth Juniors Football Club and Hollingworth Bakery

The club has said it would like to do their bit for the local community and have partnered with Hollingworth Bakery, who will be supplying free packed lunches from Monday to Friday between 12pm and 1.30pm. 

The football club will be covering all costs for any children in the area who might need this. 

They said in a Facebook post: "There will be no judgments, no pressure, for those who want to use this service. Just go into the bakery and mention Hollingworth Juniors FC in your conversation and discretion will be fully supported. 

"If we can help any child then it’s job done. Please if you can pass this message on to your network and share on here to raise awareness as much as possible." 

Carmel Church in Hadfield 

The team at the church on Station Road are putting on free children's packed lunches on Wednesday (28 October) for any school children in the local community who would like one. 

They will include a sandwich, fruit, snacks, crisps, sweets and a drink - as well as a fun-filled patch the pumpkin and celebration of light activity pack for children to enjoy.

The lunch packs will be available to collect from Carmel Church between 12pm and 1pm. There's over 60 local school children signed up at the moment, but the service will be uncapped - even if the collection time has to be extended.

For more information or if you would like to order a free lunch pack, contact Gill Cox on 07549 307720 or message the Hadfield Coming Together Group Facebook page.

Thanks go to Carmel Church and Hadfield Coming Together, as well as councillors Rob Baker, Ed Siddall, Bob Mckeown and Ed Kelly for making it happen. 

Billy's Plaice in Hadfield 

The chip shop on Station Road will be serving free food for children from Monday to Friday between 12pm and 1.30pm. 

They ask parents to bring proof that your child is entitled to free school meals but they won't refuse any child if you can't provide proof. 

Children can get either sausage and chips, fish cake and chips, or fish bites and chips - served with a choice of sauce. 

The shop said on Facebook that "we are all in this TOGETHER in these hard times" and "no child should be hungry!" 

HK Meals in Glossop 

The meals-on-wheels service have decided to offer a free packed lunch for children in need in Glossop this half term. 

Packed lunches will include a sandwich on choice of white or wholemeal bread (a choice of ham, cheese or beef), a packet of crisps, a yoghurt and a piece of fruit. 

To take advantage, contact HK Meals via their Facebook page, call 01457 239018 or email hkmeals@hotmail.com. 

The Chippy of Chinley 

The Lower Lane chip shop says it wants to provide either a small chips and sausage meal, or a small chips and chicken nuggets meal, to children who would normally receive free school meals. 

Owners Paula and Jen said: "Being parents ourselves, we feel very emotional about the sad decision to abolish the free school dinner scheme in school holidays so we want to make a difference and reach out to struggling families in the Chinley, Buxworth and Brownside area. No child should go hungry."

People can pop in on Thursday from 4.30pm to 5.30pm, Friday from 11.30am to 12.15pm and Saturday from 4.30pm to 5.30pm. 

Glossop Wholefoods

The shop on Norfolk Square has food available for the half term free school meals - just inside the shop on the window sill.

It includes: Tinned soups, pasta, muesli and snack bars. 

The Crispy Cod on New Mills 

The fish and chip shop on Market Street are offering a 'Marcus special' - a small portion of sausage and chips - to all school children between 12pm an 1.30pm Monday to Thursday. 

They said in a Facebook post: "We aim to help the community and do what we can in these difficult times." 

Little Fika Café in Whaley Bridge

Little Fika Café in Whaley Bridge have decided to offer free meals to all children, from their kids’ menu, during the half-term holidays.

Based in Canal Street they say it is in response to Manchester United and England international Marcus Rashford’s campaign.

These say parents who can afford to pay, can choose to do so to help cover the costs for those who cannot. 

Little Fika are also giving customers the opportunity to donate towards a free child’s meal.

Little Fika Café have taken this one step further and joined independent cafés up and down the country to offer a ‘suspended coffee’ scheme. 

Little Fikas’ ‘The Exchange’ programme allow customers to purchase a drink or meal token for anyone in need. 

These can be picked up at the entrance and used as their form of payment. 

Owner Fiona Douglas-Mullett, said: “We want to help anyone in need, no matter what their circumstances. 

“That maybe someone on tax credits, someone homeless, or someone smartly dressed off for their third interview that day because they were made redundant earlier this year. You cannot always recognise someone living in poverty, every situation is different. As far as we are concerned, at Little Fika, all our customers are equal. We also recognise that we live in a wonderful community where people want to help others. 

“We are all big believers in paying it forward within the Fika family.”’

Visit Little Fika Café on Facebook or Instagram for further details of  their  schemes.

Anyone else you know about? 

If you know of any other groups or organisations which are offering a helping hand but don't feature above, please get in touch with us via our Contact Us page here https://www.questmedianetwork.co.uk/contact-us/ and we will add them to our list.