On Air Now Alex Cann 6:00am - 11:00am
Now Playing Aloe Blacc I Need A Dollar

Tameside steps up to feed children over half-term

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

It comes after Conservative MPs 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. Tameside's three Labour MPs - Angela Rayner, Andrew Gwynne and Jonathan Reynolds - voted in favour of it. 

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 amazing community spirit in our borough, 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... 

Tameside Council 

Council leader Cllr Brenda Warrington tweeted that no child will go hungry this half-term in Tameside. She said: "I am happy to confirm that Tameside Council stands with Marcus Rashford's campaign and will ensure no child on free school meals will go hungry this half term." 

A scheme whereby families on income based free school meals will be eligible for a £15 supermarket food voucher will be available. In the meantime, families are asked not to contact schools about the vouchers as they will not be involved in the process.

The supermarket food vouchers for £15 per child per week will be available for children aged four and upward who attend schools in the borough and are eligible for income based free school meals.

Around 9,000 children are eligible for income based free school meals across Tameside.

Further details of the scheme and how to apply will follow on the Tameside Council website at www.tameside.gov.uk/voucher. In the meantime, any family who needs immediate emergency support should contact the council’s Early Help team on 0161 342 4260.

Ashton-under-Lyne MP Angela Rayner applauded the decision, replying:

Denton and Reddish MP Andrew Gwynne tweeted: 

Stalybridge and Hyde MP Jonathan Reynolds said: "Absolutely delighted that Tameside Council Leader Brenda Warrington has announced TMBC will do their bit to ensure no child goes hungry this half term. Tory MPs are wrong to have put already stretched councils in this position, but councils are right to step up. A huge shoutout to many more local businesses, charities and individuals who’ve offered to help too - including Dukinfield Golf Club - you are the best of us." 

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."

Waterloo Primary School Foodbank 

The Ashton school will be open every morning for people to drop off any donations at the school office which will be gratefully received. 

Waterloo Ward Labour Party members are calling on businesses and residents who feel able to support the primary school's food bank, which is based at the Worthington Street school all year round. 

Waterloo Primary School’s head teacher Mrs Goodman and staff welcome more nominations for families who may find the food bank helpful.

Frankies Denton 

The sandwich bar on Manchester Road is offering a free packed lunch for children this half term. 

Children can choose from the following options and parents can get in touch with the business via the details below. 

Hattersley Football Club 

The club has put together a package to help and support families during this time. 

Anyone with a school age child who is without a free school meals, or if you are self isolating and not able to get the essentials you need, can contact the club on 07465 249116 or email hattersleyfc@outlook.co.uk and they will help. People can also get in touch if they would like to contribute to help the cause. 

The club added in a Facebook post: "As a club, including parents, coaches and players, we understand during this difficult time that families within Hattersley are finding it hard especially with half term and school meals not being available." 

The Co-op in Dukinfield 

The shop on Fir Tree Lane are supplying 100 free packed lunches Monday to Friday between 11am and 1pm. 

Bake-N-Butty Cafe in Hyde

The cafe on Clarendon Place is offering 20 children a free lunch from Monday to Friday, which is available between 11am and 2pm. 

The lunch consists of a ham or jam sandwich, fruit, biscuits, a yoghurt and a juice drink. 

You can order a meal for your child by sending the cafe a message on Facebook or by calling 0161 879 0680. 

The Forester Pub & Kitchen in Dukinfield 

The pub on Fir Tree Lane is due to reopen on Wednesday (28 October). From then until 8 November, they are offering children free two-course meals with every adult meal ordered off the menu. 

The deal will be available all day every day during that period. 

Stalybridge Celtic Juniors 

The club is offering free school meals for any families who need them during the half-term. 

They can be collected between 11.30am and 1pm from Monday to Friday from the Soccer School on Mossley Road in Ashton. 

The lunches include a sandwich, snack, piece of fruit, and a drink. 

Stalybridge Celtic Juniors chairman Mike Taylor said: "As soon as Marcus Rashford started his campaign to ensure no child goes hungry during the school holidays we knew had to do something. Families close to us in Stalybridge and Tameside are under real financial hardship so if we can do anything to help we will. 

"Since announcing the project on Friday we have been overwhelmed with the generosity and kindness from people connected to the Junior club and wider community. We’ve had hundreds of donations and many people offer to volunteer their time. Any families who need the help can collect as many children’s lunches as they need, without judgment." 

You can find out more by clicking here.

Wendy and Mandy’s Cafe, Ashton 

The cafe in the indoor market in Ashton (pictured) have offered to feed 10 children from Monday to Friday throughout the half term. 

They will be providing a ham sandwich, banana and a bottle of flavoured water. 

Read more about their offer by clicking here.

Morrisons in Hyde and Dukinfield 

Morrisons stores will join the national effort to ensure no school child in need goes without an adequate meal this half term. 

Tameside's stores will prepare 30 lunch boxes, which will be distributed daily to local food banks and schools so they can get them to school children in need. The lunch box includes a freshly made sandwich, a piece of fruit and a Soreen snack pack.

Morrisons is also to offer customers the option to support the effort by buying their own ‘Pick Up Packs’, which will also be distributed to young people. 

The packs’ cost between £1 and £5 and contain a nutritionally balanced mix of food products that have been requested by the local food banks and schools according to their needs. The pre-packed parcels are available at the front of all Morrisons stores and are paid for at the checkout. The pack is then put aside for delivery to those in need.

Rebecca Singleton, Customer and Community Director at Morrisons, said: “We want to do our bit to ensure that as many school children as possible can eat good, nutritious food while they are out of school. We will be delighted if customers are also able to donate food in our stores to help fight holiday hunger.”

Peggies Kitchen in Droylsden

The cafe on Greenside Lane is offering toast or a bowl of cereal for any child on free school meals during half term between 8.30am and 9.30am.

JJ's Little Kitchen in Ashton 

The cafe in Ashton Market Hall is giving away free children's meals during this week. Pop in to find out more. 

Costa Coffee in Hyde 

The coffee shop in Market Place also want to support local families in their time of need. They have set up a collection point at the shop over the next two weeks for food donations, which they will then deliver to either a local foodbank or local food charity. 

The shop added in a Facebook post: "To encourage the great people of Hyde and its surrounding areas, we’re offering a 10% discount off any food or drink, eat in or takeaway if you donate items for us to pass on to the needy.

"Come on, let's all work together to help those struggling and in need locally. Let's put smiles back on those children and their families who are worried where their next meal is going to come from." 

The Jerk Stop in Hyde 

The restaurant on Clarendon Place, which normally sells Jamaican and Carribean food, said it will be offering free children's meals between 4pm and 7.30pm every evening up to and including Friday (30 October). 

You can drop The Jerk Stop a message on Facebook or call 07983 492287. 

Gourmet Grill in Ashton 

The takeaway on Stockport Road also say that no child should go hungry and is offering all children between the ages of four and 16 a free meal. 

They can be collected between 11.30am and 3.30pm Monday to Friday. 

The meals on offer are a chicken burger, a cheese burger, chicken nuggets, popcorn chicken, fish fingers and a rice box. They also come with chips and a drink. 

For more information, contact Gourmet Grill by calling 0161 343 7877. 

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. 

More from Tameside Reporter

Weather

  • Fri

    12°C

  • Sat

    13°C

  • Sun

    14°C

  • Mon

    10°C