Boris Johnson’s government has extended its voucher program for free school meals over the summer after coming under intense pressure from Manchester United forward Marcus Rashford.
The government had suspended the program over the autumn school holidays triggering uproar from all quarters.
Rashford became the face of meals campaign as he campaigned vigorously raising awareness on the issue and demanding government action.
The football star empathized with children from poor backgrounds saying that he too survived on free school meals while schooling.
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A petition to the government put forward by the soccer player was signed by more than a million people.
Boris Johnson’s government has since announced 170 million pounds/$224 million of funding to free school meals.
“The intent the government have shown today is nothing but positive and they should be recognized for that. The steps made today will improve the lives of nearly 1.7 million children in the U.K. over the next 12 months,” Rashford tweeted.
The Manchester United has also been appointed to lead Child Food Poverty Taskforce, he spoke with Boris Johnson after his team defeated Everton on Saturday November 7th.
“I don’t want any child to go through what I went through, and any parent to experience what my mother experienced. I now call on the government to collaborate with the Child Food Poverty Taskforce, something the prime minister and I discussed on the phone last night, to guarantee that no child does,” Rashford tweeted after speaking with the Prime Minister.
Related: ODM Proposes Re-Introduction of Free Milk To Primary Schools