Chartwells supports children across the UK during Christmas

Chartwells, the leading provider of catering and support services to schools in the UK, delivered 11,500 nutritious food hampers to children across the UK this Christmas.

In line with joining the Child Food Poverty taskforce formed by Marcus Rashford MBE, to tackle child food poverty in the UK, Chartwells sent out almost 9,000 food packages to young people who are entitled to free school meals, to support them during the Christmas break. The hampers were packed with enough food to make lunch for two weeks and included fresh fruit, snacks and drinks.

In addition, Chartwells, alongside its partners embarked on fundraising to raise a massive £50,000, including a donation of £11,700 from Chartwells colleagues, to supply organisations Transforming Lives for Good and the Mayor’s Fund for London programme, Kitchen Social, with 2,500 food hampers for children in need. These hampers were sent to holiday clubs and children’s centres, to ensure they reached some of the most vulnerable.

Meg Longworth, Director of Nutrition and Sustainability, Chartwells said: “We know that many families struggle with access to food and that this is especially tough during school holidays when access to school lunches isn’t there. We also know that this year has been especially hard for families in the UK and that many children need our help. We’re proud to be able to provide this food to children across the UK and we know it’s made a difference to those that received them.”

Bermondsey and Rotherhithe Children and Family Centre team: “We are extremely grateful for these hampers, as are the families who received them. We were able to reach out and provide hampers to 30 different families, who are experiencing the effects of food insecurity through profound financial hardship. Within the 30 families, 50 children were able to access nutritious food items over the Christmas period.”

Kirsty McHugh, Chief Executive, Mayor’s Fund for London: “We’re hugely grateful to Chartwells for their continued support of our Kitchen Social holiday provision programme; it makes a massive difference to the lives of young people impacted by this crisis.”

A parent who received a hamper said: “I just felt so glad and humble that I could provide good, fresh meals for my child, but I could not have done it without Chartwells.”