Cash for Kids grant vital funds to Manchester school kids
Lockdown and home schooling leaves many disadvantaged child at risk of hunger
Chorlton High School South this week received a grant to provide food hampers to pupils thanks to our Cash for Kids Appeal
The newly opened secondary school has a cohort of 540 students, 65% of which are from disadvantaged families and rely on free school meals to provide the only hot food of the day.
On 4th January 2021 Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, announced that England would go into a full lockdown for the third time seeing the majority of school children learning from home once again. For many disadvantaged children the free meal they receive in school is the only hot meal of the day.
For newly opened secondary school, Chorlton High School South, of their 540 year 7, 8 and 9 pupils, 65% of them live in poverty. Many of the students are from single parent or low-income households. Since the COVID-19 outbreak the strain on these families has been event greater with many having suffered a bereavement or have parents/cares who have lost their jobs.
Akeim Mundell, Pastoral Leader & School Governor at Chorlton Hight School identified that the rate of poor mental health and anxiety was rising amongst pupils as they adapt to the new lifestyle brought on by the lockdown and the hunger some young people were suffering.
Hearing of Hits Radio Cash for Kids Appeal, which is has granted emergency funding to vulnerable children facing poverty as a result of the Coronavirus pandemic, Mr Mundell applied for £3150 in order to create food packages for 90 children (£35 per child). Manchester radio stations Hits Radio and Greatest Hits Radio along with their charity Cash for Kids were quick to react to the application, making their first grant of 2021 within two days of receiving the application.
Akeim Mundell said: ‘I am delighted that CHS South have been successful with the Emergency Appeal, at such a time where it is most needed. The happiness that the hampers will bring to our students and families will be absolutely priceless. A massive thank you to the amazing Hits Radio Cash for Kids.’
The quick actions of the school and the Cash for Kids team will ensure these children won’t face hunger this lockdown. It comes a week after the government launched an investigation after 'woefully inadequate' food packages were sent to families who rely on free school meals.
In response to the impact of Coronavirus, Hits Radio Cash for Kids launched an appeal to help the local families that need it most. So far, thanks to YOU, we've been able to support 1,694 children across Greater Manchester.
The appeal will continue to build a fund from which grants will help families with children cover essentials such as food and heating. We’re asking you to donate what you can, so together we can support more local families and enable them to pay for the basics during this difficult time. Head to hitsradio.co.uk/appeal to make a contribution.