A estimated 1.3million free holiday meals were delivered to families across London over the Christmas period, thanks to an emergency funding programme.
Families across the capital received the free meals at a range of school holiday activities and through charity organisations, thanks to a partnership with the Mayor’s Fund for London and food redistribution charity The Felix Project.
A total of more than 10.1m meals have now been delivered to families during school holidays and at weekends since Mayor Sadiq Khan launched his £3.5m Free Holiday Meals programme last April.
The programme forms part of efforts to tackle the cost-of-living crisis this winter, as families across the capital continue to be faced with soaring energy bills, rents and food costs.
Rachel Ledwith, head of community engagement at The Felix Project - which has worked with The Standard to tackle food poverty - said: “Christmas can be an incredibly stressful time for parents, particularly those who are on low incomes. There is so much pressure to spend money, they often don’t have, on presents and food and with the increased costs of children at home it can mean many are left with no option but to get into debt or skip meals. Being able to send their children to a holiday club where they are given a free delicious and healthy meal is vital in helping to relieve some of their budgetary pressures.
“The Felix Project is delighted to once again been supported by the Mayor of London to ensure we can be there to continue to deliver meals during these challenging times.”
Mr Khan said: “Winter can be incredibly tough for families who are already struggling due to the cost-of-living crisis, which is why I’m proud of the difference that our Free Holiday Meals programme is making for Londoners. It is shocking that in a city as prosperous as London so many people have to rely on the work of charities to feed themselves and their families.”
The Evening Standard’s Winter Survival Appeal in partnership with Comic Relief raised £2.4million, with £1.25 million already given out in grants to charities helping the most vulnerable people struggling with the cost of living in London and across the country.
