Local pubs join food bank in offering kids free meals

ASHBOURNE’S food bank project is offering free children’s lunches for any families struggling with the additional financial pressure of one extra meal a day during the half term week.

The church-based food bank is putting together a package of ingredients to keep children fed, following the government’s decision to reject a campaign by football star Marcus Rashford who urged ministers to offer free meals during the holiday.

Elim Pentecostal Church’s team of volunteers will be putting together bread, tins of beans and soup, a jar of jam, fruit, crisps, biscuits and drinks cartons for families who apply for the support.

The packages are arranged on top of the food bank’s usual support, which has been offered to families for many years from its Waterside Park base.

Meanwhile, local businesses are also offering lunch packages for families struggling to make ends meet.

The Red Lion pub and nearby Bubble Inn, both in Kniveton, are among those offering a free lunch. On its Facebook page, the Red Lion said: “Like many, we are saddened by the recent announcements regarding free school meals.

“We have contacted our local primary school and understand that provision has been made for their pupils who are in receipt of free school meals through a school hardship fund. If there are any families in the parish with children who go to a different school and are going to struggle over the half-term break, then please contact us (in confidence, by phone or email) by Sunday afternoon and we will sort something out to help for free. We are able to cater for vegetarians, vegans or any special dietary needs etc.

“In addition - for each children’s meal we serve over the week, we will make a donation to the Kniveton School hardship fund to further help over what will become a very hard winter.”

The Bubble Inn, formerly The Ketch, is offering meals until Friday if pre-ordered the day before.