Footballers help provide free meals to children

More than 1,000 children in Barnet, Enfield and Potters Bar will continue to enjoy nutritious meals this half term thanks to a local group of footballers.

The Barnet Sunday Football League teamed up with Arsenal superstar Mesut Ozil and top chef Stefan Pappert to provide hot food daily to pupils eligible for free school meals.

Inspired by Marcus Rashford, who has been campaigning for free meals for children in the school holidays, they have already raised more than £3,500 through their GoFundMe page and this morning they delivered 1,200 meals to 12 schools. Volunteers will continue to deliver food every day during the half term.

The Wroxham School received 20 meals, which were distributed to families in need within a couple of hours. Headteacher Roger Billing says: “For some of our families this means everything. It’s the difference between their children having a nutritious hot meal or not. For parents, it means they don’t have to worry so much for the rest of this week.

“The food is nutritious and tasty, and the children can enjoy a different hot meal every day. From seeing the reactions of the families picking up the meals this morning, we know this is going to make a huge difference to them.”

Roger adds: “Lockdown was difficult and challenging but it brought out this incredible sense of community and it’s important that we don’t lose this. The way that Marcus Rashford has encouraged everyone to come together for this important cause is inspiring and it’s something we definitely need to hold on to.”