Marcus Rashford ‘blown away’ as cafes and restaurants offer free meals for children in support of campaign

Footballer Marcus Rashford said he was “blown away” by an outpouring of support for his child food poverty campaign from cafes and restaurant owners offering free meals for children.

The Manchester United and England star shared dozens of the offers from small businesses stepping up to help struggling families – after Boris Johnson’s government refused to extend free meal vouchers during upcoming school holidays.

Mr Rashford and his mother Melanie visited to food redistribution charity FareShare in Manchester on Thursday, which is naming one of its new facilities ‘Melanie Maynard House’ in her honour.

“Blown away by news of local businesses stepping up to fill the voucher scheme deficit during the October half term,” the campaigner tweeted after his visit to the food charity.

“Selflessness, kindness, togetherness, this is the England I know,” the footballer added. “I will share as many as I can.”

Mr Rashford then retweeted announcements from cafes, bars and restaurants all over England who want to provide free meals during half-term – as well as local authorities who say they will cover the costs of meal vouchers over the holiday.

“We’re behind Marcus Rashford,” said Baker’s cafe in Bolton – offering free lunches during half-term. “No parent should ever struggle to feed their children.”

Pearson’s Bar in Hull, which will now give out free packed lunches, stated: “The government’s decision not to offer free school meals during holidays at a time like this is quite frankly heart-breaking.”

The Riddling Rack restaurant in St Helen’s, offering free lunches and “early teas” for children, added: “We stand with Marcus Rashford.”

The star also shared messages from Redbridge Council, Southwark Council and Hammersmith and Fulham Council, announcing they would provide free school meal vouchers over half-term.

“The real superstars in this country can be found in the heart of most cities, towns and villages, working tirelessly to support our most vulnerable across the UK,” said the England international.

“When we stumble, there will always be a community to wrap their arms around us and pick us back up. For many of us, that is FareShare or the local food bank.”

Tory peer Baroness Morgan was criticised for her comments about Mr Rashford’s campaign on BBC Question Time on Thursday night.

Asked why the government had refused to back Labour’s motion to extend free school meals, the former Tory minister said: “Labour would have got more supporters yesterday if the deputy Labour leader [Angela Rayner] hadn’t called one of the Conservative MPs scum.”

Host Fiona Bruce said: “That’s not exactly the point, is it?”, while Labour MP Bridget Phillipson fired back: “So kids will go hungry this Christmas because you don’t like the parliamentary process?”

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