15,000 freshly cooked meals will be distributed at 10 venues across the north providing schoolchildren with one hot meal a day during this half-term school break.
Restaurant chain Estábulo is leading the charge to prepare 100 meals daily at 7 of their Estábulo bar & grill restaurant locations. In addition, a further 100 meals will be available for collection for the 15-day period at another 3 sites, Fleur Café, The Light (Leeds), Casa Peri Peri Chicken, St Peter's Place (Leeds) and from the Management Suite at the Vangarde Shopping Park, York.
The meals will be ready for collection between 4 pm and 5 pm from today Monday 26th October until children return to school on Tuesday 9th November.
Each takeaway box will contain chicken and vegetables, providing a hot, nutritionally-balanced meal ready for eating the same evening.
Rob Campbell, CEO of the hospitality group is taking action, following the recent rejection of a motion to extend free school meals over the school holidays by MP's. In support of a nationwide drive championed by footballer Marcus Rashford MBE to ensure schoolchildren do not go hungry this half-term, Campbell said "The situation is critical and we can't wait for more debate, these families need immediate support."
The World Economic Forum has previously reported one in five children in the UK faces food insecurity. The United Nations World Food Programme defines food security as having reliable and consistent access at all times to sufficient, safe, nutritious food to maintain a healthy and active life.
Campbell went on to say "Unfortunately, the UK has one of the worst child food insecurity levels amongst the world's richest countries. Sadly, the crisis is impacting this situation and it is getting worse at an alarming rate."
Campbell explained that the restaurant will rely on the goodwill of people to collect meals only for schoolchildren that would have qualified for vouchers and has requested safety guidelines regarding social distancing are adhered also. “Remaining safe is a priority. Thank you to all the families for helping us distribute the meals safely”.
Rob Campbell will be on site at various venues throughout including Estábulo Restaurant, Wakefield on Wednesday 28th October between 4 pm – 5 pm assisting with the distribution of meals.
