Manchester [UK]: Manchester United star Marcus Rashford on Tuesday got a massive shot in the arm as he got the UK government to provide free meals for vulnerable children over the school holidays after they took a U-turn on their initial decision.
After immense pressure from Rashford, it has been confirmed that children eligible for free school meals in term time in England will get a six-week voucher.
"Owing to the coronavirus pandemic, the Prime Minister (Boris Johnson) fully understands that children and parents face an entirely unprecedented situation over the summer," Goal.com quoted the Prime Minister's official spokesperson as saying.
"To reflect this, we will be providing a COVID summer food fund. This will provide food vouchers over the six-week summer holiday period. This is a specific measure to reflect the unique circumstances of the pandemic. The scheme will not continue beyond the summer," the spokesperson said.
"I do not even know what to say. Just look at what we can do when we come together. This is England in 2020," Rashford tweeted on Tuesday after finding out about the UK government's decision.
-
I don’t even know what to say.
— Marcus Rashford (@MarcusRashford) June 16, 2020 " class="align-text-top noRightClick twitterSection" data="
Just look at what we can do when we come together, THIS is England in 2020.
">I don’t even know what to say.
— Marcus Rashford (@MarcusRashford) June 16, 2020
Just look at what we can do when we come together, THIS is England in 2020.I don’t even know what to say.
— Marcus Rashford (@MarcusRashford) June 16, 2020
Just look at what we can do when we come together, THIS is England in 2020.
Rashford had written an emotional open letter to all the MPs on Monday, asking them to continue the national voucher scheme aiming to feed children from low-income families while schools were closed during the coronavirus pandemic.
-
An Open Letter to all MPs in Parliament...#maketheUturn
— Marcus Rashford (@MarcusRashford) June 14, 2020 " class="align-text-top noRightClick twitterSection" data="
Please retweet and tag your local MPs pic.twitter.com/GXuUxFJdcv
">An Open Letter to all MPs in Parliament...#maketheUturn
— Marcus Rashford (@MarcusRashford) June 14, 2020
Please retweet and tag your local MPs pic.twitter.com/GXuUxFJdcvAn Open Letter to all MPs in Parliament...#maketheUturn
— Marcus Rashford (@MarcusRashford) June 14, 2020
Please retweet and tag your local MPs pic.twitter.com/GXuUxFJdcv
In a letter sent to the UK government on Monday, Rashford had recalled his own experiences of having to rely on free school meals and food banks when he was a child growing up in Manchester.
Earlier in the day, Rashford had urged all the MPs to move over politics and do the needful.
-
🗣 to all MPs pic.twitter.com/Dc4weMvTHN
— Marcus Rashford (@MarcusRashford) June 16, 2020 " class="align-text-top noRightClick twitterSection" data="
">🗣 to all MPs pic.twitter.com/Dc4weMvTHN
— Marcus Rashford (@MarcusRashford) June 16, 2020🗣 to all MPs pic.twitter.com/Dc4weMvTHN
— Marcus Rashford (@MarcusRashford) June 16, 2020
In a series of tweets, Rashford had urged all the MPs to think about people who do not have resources and how much the help will benefit them.
"When you wake up this morning and run your shower, take a second to think about parents who have had their water turned off during lockdown #maketheuturn," read one of Rashford's tweets.
-
1. When you wake up this morning and run your shower, take a second to think about parents who have had their water turned off during lockdown #maketheuturn
— Marcus Rashford (@MarcusRashford) June 16, 2020 " class="align-text-top noRightClick twitterSection" data="
">1. When you wake up this morning and run your shower, take a second to think about parents who have had their water turned off during lockdown #maketheuturn
— Marcus Rashford (@MarcusRashford) June 16, 20201. When you wake up this morning and run your shower, take a second to think about parents who have had their water turned off during lockdown #maketheuturn
— Marcus Rashford (@MarcusRashford) June 16, 2020
"Recognise children around the country are this morning innocently questioning 'why?' 9 out of 30 children in any given classroom are today asking 'why?' 'Why does our future not matter?' #maketheuturn," Rashford said in a subsequent tweet.
-
4. Recognise children around the country are this morning innocently questioning ‘why?’
— Marcus Rashford (@MarcusRashford) June 16, 2020 " class="align-text-top noRightClick twitterSection" data="
9 out of 30 children in any given classroom are today asking ‘why?’
‘Why does our future not matter?’ #maketheuturn
">4. Recognise children around the country are this morning innocently questioning ‘why?’
— Marcus Rashford (@MarcusRashford) June 16, 2020
9 out of 30 children in any given classroom are today asking ‘why?’
‘Why does our future not matter?’ #maketheuturn4. Recognise children around the country are this morning innocently questioning ‘why?’
— Marcus Rashford (@MarcusRashford) June 16, 2020
9 out of 30 children in any given classroom are today asking ‘why?’
‘Why does our future not matter?’ #maketheuturn
