The Voice of Spalding and South Holland
Pinchbeck United have announced they’re opening their doors for free school meals and football for children for half term.
The Knight Street club have joined a number of organisations and businesses in offering free meals to children after the government, including South Holland and the Deepings MP Sir John Hayes, voted against funding school meals for the upcoming half term and Christmas holidays earlier this week.
The movement has been led by Manchester United and England footballer Manchester United who has campaigned for the meals provided in schools to continue for those that need them during the pandemic.
Around 14 per cent of second school pupils in the East Midlands were eligible for such meals in the 2019/20 academic year, according to the Department for Education.
Pinchbeck United’s assistant manager Alfie Tate decided to get the club involved in feeding youngsters.
A club statement placed on Facebook says: “Pinchbeck United Football Club are excited to show our support to the recent campaign ran by professional footballer, Marcus Rashford who has tried to get government to provide free school meals to children during the October half-term.
“To support this work, we are providing both a breakfast in the morning AND a hot meal in the afternoon for any school aged children down at Knight Street in Pinchbeck. This is completely free of charge! Breakfasts will include a variation of cereals and toast and will be provided between 11am – 12pm from Monday to Friday.
“Hot meals will be provided in the afternoon from 2pm – 3pm and cooked by our experienced chefs.We are also happy to open up the football goals and provide some footballs for children to kick about at Knight Street should they want to with our qualified coaches.
“We’d like to thank the chairman, Gary Coomes for backing this idea as well as Tim Coomes and Ann Lawson for offering to do the cooking during half-term.”
