Marcus Rashford launches website to support children in food poverty this Christmas

The website, endchildfoodpoverty.org, launched jointly with the Child Food Poverty Taskforce, includes an interactive map of the UK that signposts families to food support schemes available in each area.

Local authorities, businesses, food banks, charities and sporting organisations have all signed up, presenting their offers of food support to young people and families throughout the winter period and beyond.

Several major UK food businesses and members of the Child Food Poverty Task Force, such as Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Ocado, Co-Op, Nandos, MacDonalds and Deliveroo, have rallied together to tackle child hunger this winter, with the website being a central point for information on support schemes available.

Hundreds of food banks and charities have also registered details of the emergency food provision they will be offering over the Christmas period, with a huge rise in people looking for support being reported.

The Independent Food Aid Network has reported a 60 per cent increase in the use of food banks in October, and is projecting a sharp rise in numbers as millions more face financial insecurity due to the pandemic and the end of the furloughing schemes. 
 
England International footballer, Marcus Rashford MBE, said, ‘Following the Government investment, it was important to me that we supported by communicating on the help available in local areas, working closely with local authorities, so that our vulnerable families know where to turn when faced with the toughest winter on record.