Let’s help feed London’s hungry: Party chiefs back our appeal

Support: Education secretary Justine Greening
DANIEL LEAL-OLIVAS/AFP/Getty Images

Political leaders today rallied behind the Evening Standard’s Christmas Appeal to help feed hungry schoolchildren.

For the Government, Education Secretary Justine Greening said donations would make “a real difference” to the prospects of needy youngsters.

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn praised the Felix Project’s Help A Hungry Child campaign, which readers can support via our appeal. He said he had himself seen how it created healthy meals from food that would have gone to waste, adding: “It is so important to encourage community action like this.”

Sir Vince Cable, leader of the Liberal Democrats, said: “I commend the Felix Project for the part they are playing in making sure London’s children are getting a proper meal.”

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said community action is vital
EPA

The campaign is tackling food poverty, which affects some 70,000 London children. Together with partner charity the Felix Project, we aim to ensure children in schools in deprived areas have access to sufficient food.

Market stalls are being set up in 120 schools giving out healthy, free food, which children can take home to their families and cook for dinner. Ms Greening said: “I welcome the work of the Felix Project, which is helping support those families who need it the most, and would encourage everyone to get behind their Help A Hungry Child project. Your donations will make a real difference to the lives of children.”

Ms Greening said her aim was that “no child should go hungry”. Already, some 1.1 million children get free school meals, and the Government is investing £26 million in breakfast clubs. Mr Corbyn said: “Hunger and poverty prevent children from reaching their potential, affecting concentration at school and leading to illness and disease. It cannot be right that in one of the world’s richest countries, four million children live in poverty.

“There is clearly enough food to go round; I have seen the vanloads of produce turned into healthy meals by the Felix Project instead of being thrown away. I am delighted to give this campaign my support, as I did last year.”

Sir Vince Cable pitching in at the Evening Standard's telethon to raise funds for the Felix Project
NIGEL HOWARD

Sir Vince said: “Britain in 2017 should not be a place where children are going to bed hungry. We must end the scandalous situation — tackling this must be a national priority.” The first Felix stall in Stanhope primary in Greenford has been a huge success. Children collect produce in paper bags at the end of the day. The food, delivered by Felix Project vans, is donated by supermarkets, wholesalers and other suppliers and would otherwise have gone to waste.

In two years the campaign aims to reach 50,000 children. Every £1 donated will guarantee a primary school pupil and their family food for a nutritious meal. Every £500 will allow a new school to enrol in the programme. The cash raised will also support Felix’s partners in London. A star-studded telethon last week helped the appeal smash through the £500,000 barrier.

Call – 08000 639281 (freephone)

Text – FELIX £5 TO 70700

Post – Freepost HELP A HUNGRY CHILD

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