‘Parcel daylight robbery' – mam
A family say the contents of a food parcel to replace free school meals is “appalling” as they question where the allocated funds have been spent.
The national Free School Meals allocation to schools is £11.50 per pupil per week but the Government says schools can claim for additional funding of £3.50 per week for each eligible pupil receiving lunch parcel provision at home.
Sharing a picture of a family member’s food parcel, Emma Frew questioned how the schools meals substitute had cost £15.
Theparcelincludesaloafof bread,sixeggs,onejarofbaked beans,abagofBabybelcheese, two bananas, five oranges, one apple, one pear, a cucumber and two jacket potatoes.
Emma, of Ludworth, said: “When we received the parcel we worked out how much the items actually cost in a supermarketanditcametojustover £6 so where has the rest of that money gone?
"When you think there are 1.3million children receiving free school meals who should be receiving up to £15 each when this is what is happening around the country.
"It’s daylight robbery really isn’t it.”
Durham County Council says the allocated funds go towards food, packaging and delivery.
Emma, 46, whose family member’s daughter attends a CountyDurhamschool,added: "Inthefirstlockdowntheyprovided food vouchers so families could spend the money a lot more wisely.
"There’salotofpeoplegoing on saying you should be grateful for what you’ve got. They’re missingthepoint,ifeverychild got a food parcel like this then where have the funds been spent.
"There’ssomanymorefamilies who are struggling - from selfemployedpeoplewhocan’t open their businesses to people who have lost their jobs.
"Iworkasinbusinessdevelopment for a national homeless charity and we would get in trouble if we were feeding people like this.”
The Government says vouchers will only be available through the national voucher scheme from the week commencing January 18, however, any support provided since January4,2021,throughlunch parcels or locally-arranged vouchers can be claimed back from Department of Education.
Richard Crane, head of education and skills at Durham County Council, said: “We know how important it is for children to have fresh, tasty and nutritious food during the school day.
“The standardised food within weekly hampers is specified in line with the Local AuthorityCateringAssociation (LACA) guidance.
“Children normally receiving free school meals are being provided with food to create lunches for five days a week, regardless of whether or not they are in school or at home.
“Thisisaninterimmeasure which was organised at short noticefollowingtheannouncementofthelatestnationallockdown on January 4.
“The national Free School Meals allocation to schools is £11.50 per child, per week and, as well as going towards the purchasingoffood,thecostincludespackaginganddelivery.
“Schools are given menus showing how the food in each box can be used to create five healthy,nutritionallybalanced lunches.
“We are awaiting further information on the roll out of the national voucher scheme from the Government which is urgently required to resolve some of the concerns raised.”