Millions of free meals delivered across London

Millions of free meals are being handed out across the capital this summer, as recent statistics have shown that half of parents are struggling to buy food and essential items.

The meals are being provided through an emergency funding programme from the Mayor of London.

With support from City Hall, more than three million free meals have been given to children and their families since April. Hundreds of thousands more meals will be delivered over the summer holidays through the Mayor’s free holiday meals funding.

Recent polling from YouGov shows that half (49 per cent) of parents and carers with children under 18 said that they think will struggle to pay for their regular household shop for food and essential items in the next six months; one in three (34 per cent) say they are having to go without their basic needs, rely on debt to pay for them or are struggling to make ends meet; and around one in eight (13 per cent) are going without essentials.

The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said: “It is simply appalling that so many families are struggling to put food on the table due to the spiralling cost of living. That is why I’ve once again stepped in with emergency funding to help those most in need during the school holidays.

“I’m proud that we’ve provided more than three million meals so far and will be providing millions more to help hundreds of thousands of Londoners throughout the summer break.

“It cannot be right that in a city as prosperous as ours so many people are faced with impossible choices to try to feed their families. As Mayor, I will continue to do all I can to support Londoners and urge the Government to make full use of its powers to stop children going hungry, as we build a fairer city for all.”

Image by Imran from Pixabay