No child to go hungry in Reading this half term

READING BOROUGH COUNCIL and partners will provide support to families who need help accessing regular meals for children within the Borough during half term. 

Families in difficulty who need help to provide regular meals for their children should call the One Reading Community Hub on 0808 1894325 from Monday 26 October. 

The One Reading Community Hub is a partnership between Reading Borough Council and voluntary sector partners in Reading. The Hub will work with Brighter Futures for Children, the Council’s children’s services provider, to help families in need across the Borough to access organisations who can provide support. This includes a generous offer from the University of Reading to provide hot meals to children from Tuesday next week, with other options being available as most appropriate to circumstances.

By directing people through the Hub the Council is able to assess the needs of each family and ensure the right level of support is provided, whether that is direct access to food or a holistic package of advice including information about welfare rights, benefits and childcare services.

Cllr Liz Terry, Lead Councillor for Children, said:  “We are extremely disappointed that the Government this week did not respond to calls to extend free school meals over half term for those children that need them.  Families are under severe pressure due to the Covid pandemic and they desperately need the government to continue with the scheme they put in place in the summer. 

“We cannot countenance children going hungry across Reading this half term. The Council is working with partners across the community to ensure that parents in need can access support and put food on their children’s plates. The One Reading Community Hub is here to support families who face severe hardship at this difficult time and anyone in distress should call 0808 1894325 from Monday 26 October."