​Ensuring all our children are fed – at school and at home

Bury children will continue to receive free school meals during the half-term and Easter holidays.

Education leaders are ensuring that the parents of the 6,000 youngsters who are eligible will be given either food hampers, vouchers or packed lunches.

Schools are continuing to provide hot meals in term-time to all pupils who are still attending because they are classed as vulnerable or are the children of key workers.

Councillor Tamoor Tariq, cabinet member for children’s services, young people and skills, said: “Many families are struggling to make ends meet, especially during the coronavirus pandemic. No child should ever have to go hungry, and we are determined to ensure that no child ever does.

“Free school meals are a lifeline for thousands of families across Bury, and we are proud that, following cabinet approval, we will provide these during February half-term and Easter holidays as we did over the recent Christmas holidays.”

Fortnightly lunch parcels have been prepared for schools and families choosing that option by Bury Catering, the council’s not-for-profit school meals arm.

The parcels contain ingredients for ten lunches that comply with national nutritional standards. They include fresh fruit and vegetables, yoghurts, cheese, rice pudding, custard, bread, pasta and baked beans, and all the store cupboard items are main brands. They come with menu suggestions and recipes to help parents and carers prepare balanced healthy meals from these ingredients, encouraging their children to join in.

The parcels are delivered to schools for parents to collect. This is in addition to the packed lunches and emergency weekly food parcels that are being provided for bubbles that have to isolate.

Cllr Tariq added: “The school catering team have been doing a great job putting together packed lunches, emergency food parcels and these new fortnightly lunch parcels, and are discussing with schools which route they wish to take this week.”

ENDS

Press release issued: 18 January 2021.