A huge number of local businesses have stepped in to help.
Following the announcement that the UK government would not be extending any help via the free school meals scheme this October half term, a number of Liverpool businesses have stepped in to help – providing free meals to those in need and continuing the huge momentum of Marcus Rashford’s child food poverty campaign.
Offering a helping hand in the form of takeaway packed lunches and sit-down hot meals, here are just some of the businesses offering free school meals this half term.
Liverpool City Council, City Centre
Liverpool Council is continuing to support those who receive free school meals, with £15 weekly in vouchers to those who would usually rely on term-time meals. Liverpool Town Hall, High Street, L2 3SW
Wonton, City Centre
Asian restaurant, Wonton, posted on Instagram: “The message is quite simple , we are going to close the restaurants to the public and feed as many children as possible starting from Monday next week . If you want to attend the Ranelagh street site in the city centre we are next to central station on the front, just turn up between 11am and 4pm and you will get fed. We will have a variety of hot food on offer and halal and vegetarian choices also. “Wonton added that if in the Sefton area, to come to the Marian Square site any time after 1pm and contact Marie Savin who runs the Netherton park community centre on 07912645205 and she will be arranging times etc.
Unit 4, Ranelagh Street, L1 1JP
Pho, City Centre
Pho has pledged to donate 6,000 meals to children this half term, with staff on hand to discreetly give these out to those in need. Many of their restaurants in the UK are participating, including Liverpool. Pho, 79 Bold Street, L1 4EZ
The Watering Can, Mossley Hill
Phil and Keith at the Greenbank Park Café are offering free takeaway packed lunches for children who have access to free meals at school from Monday to Friday. They said on Instagram: “We are deeply saddened by the recent announcements regarding the removal of free school meals, the Tories’ general disregard for the North and their rhetoric of the poor are poor because they don’t work hard enough.” To arrange a lunch, just call the restaurant on 0151 319 2366.
64 Greenbank Road, L18 1HQ
RayRayz, Dingle
Caribbean restaurant RayRayz will be offering free school meals over the half term in Dingle and is accepting messages on social media to claim.
173 Park Road, L8 6SE
Knowsley Council, Huyton
Knowsley Council is continuing to support those who receive free school meals, with £15 weekly in vouchers to those who would usually rely on term-time meals.
Municipal Buildings, Huyton, L36 9UX
Community Shop, Kirkdale
Community Shop on Walton Road will be offering free school meals over the half term in Kirkdale. Just pop in to claim yours.
211 Walton Road, L4 4AJ
Taste Sandwich Bar, Dingle
Taste Sandwich Bar is making up sandwiches for kids in need this half term, with orders being taken by direct message on their social media pages. Simply drop them a message to request yours for collection the following day, all information will be kept confidential.
51 Dingle Lane, L8 9RW
LDSA Dolphin Cafe, Garston
The Dolphin Cafe in Garston posted on Instagram that kids can eat for free during half term at the Dolphin Cafe, from Monday to Friday. Also any donations are welcome which are in conjunction with Liverpool Football Club.
24 Speke Road, L19 2PA
Torrington Drive Community Association, Halewood
Over the October half term, TDCA will be providing free kids packed lunches and spooktacular activities and delivering them to families across Halewood. The scheme will deliver a packed lunch on from Monday to Friday during the half term period. In order to claim, they ask that you complete the form on their website in order to register for a TDCA packed lunch.
New Hutte Neighbourhood Centre, L26 1TT
Neo Community, Wirral
Beaconsfield Community House, CH42 3YN
The Willow Tree, Liscard
The Willow Tree cafe in Lisgard, Wallasey posted on Facebook: “During October half term anyone struggling to feed their school age kids can pop into the cafe and ask for a pack lunch. You don’t need to make a big deal about it or loudly announce it. Just come to the counter and ask if you can have one and we will make one up for you to take out. It will have a butty, fruit, crisps, a snack and a drink in the pack. Please do not go hungry! Please do not struggle!” The cafe has supplied near to 300 meals a day already this half term.
13-15 Coronation Building, Wallasey Road, CH45 4NE
Horse and Jockey Pub, Melling
Volunteers in Melling will help feed the community, with meals prepared by the Horse and Jockey for any child in Melling who requires a lunch during half term. The packs can be collected from the events marquee in the grounds of Caunce Hall (Scout hall) on any day or all days between Monday and Friday, 11.30am to 1.30pm. You can call the Melling volunteers on 07731689949 to claim any child lunches.
Waddicar Lane, L31 1DR
Harrison’s Tearoom, Bootle
Between 12pm – 1.30pm Harrison’s Tea Room will be offering a free lunch bag for every child during the school holidays. The Bootle If you know anyone that could be helped by a service like this, please pass on our details. No one will be challenged, we don’t need any details or id and this will be a discreet service.
Order before 10.30 where possible.
Unit 1B, Stella Nova Building, L20 4TZ
Brew Coffee & Kitchen, Crosby
The Crosby cafe has offered sandwiches, fruit and a drink for any child in need this half term after declaring on Instagram: “No child should go hungry.” And it has been so overwhelmed with offers of help that it has set up a JustGiving page to reach more children than ever. It says: “Since our post we have been inundated with offers of kindness and support. You are all BOSS!! When we posted we thought we may be able to help a few children in our community, but we now feel this could be something bigger!
“There are so many businesses and people in Liverpool who want to help. So let’s show the Tories how people should behave and raise some funds to feed our kids.”
To receive a packed lunch over half term head to their Instagram post for more info.
33 Crosby Road North, Waterloo, L22 4QB
Liverpool Trampoline Gymnastics Academy, Speke
The Academy is setting up two free sessions during the half-term holidays when youngsters can have a go on the trampolines and get a hot meal. They’ll be held at the Speke Centre on Tuesday and Thursday evenings between 7.30pm and 9pm. Covid means limited numbers will be allowed in at any one time, and time spent there could be restricted, but they promise everyone will ‘get to bounce’ and get their tea. They’ve asked people to call 01514863331, DM, or email admin@liverpooltrampoline.co.uk to book or, if you need to, just turn up on the night.
Unit 14 Viscount Centre, Gaskill Road, Speke, L24 9GS
Laura’s Little Bakery
Laura Worthington shared her own personal story of her childhood on social media, this promoted her to take action and do something herself using her business, Laura’s Little Bakery. Laura will be donating a birthday cake every single week to a family who can’t afford one for their birthday boy or girl. You can support Laura’s Little Bakery Donate A Cake campaign here.
Pip’s Sandwich and Sweet Shop, Wavertree
Pip’s in Woolton Road, Wavertree, has got lots of little brown carrier bags waiting to be filled throughout half-term next week. It will provide a little lunch of a sandwich/roll (with either egg, cheese or ham) or a pasta pot, a packet of Wotsits or Quavers, a piece of fruit and a bottle of water to any parents or carers of children who usually get free school meals. And, it will be available every day during half term.
87 Woolton Road, L15 6TB
Fika, Wavertree
The Wavertree coffee shop is offering a free breakfast to children from Monday to Friday during half-term. It’s available to all school children under the age of 16, between 8am-10.30am. Fika said: “No child should go without food whilst the schools are closed.” Call 0151 345 6950 or message them on Facebook.
131 Woolton Road, L15 6TB
Aubergine, Wirral
The West Kirby café is offering a free takeaway sandwich from Monday, October 26, to Friday, October 30, for any child who normally gets free school meals. It says: “We don’t know what the demand will be for this offer, so we’ve set up a page for people to register their interest.
“We promise to keep all information confidential, no questions will be asked, and we ask of nothing in return: there’s no charge, it’s totally free and you don’t previously have to have been a customer of Aubergine.” Anyone wants to take up the offer needs to fill in a form here.
Blenheim Building, The Crescent, West Kirby, Wirral, CH48 4DA
The Daily Grind, St Helens
Hot soup or a sandwich is on offer from the Corporation Street coffee shop in St Helens. They are happy for anyone on low income, whose child usually has a free school dinner, to go into the shop for either a free soup or a cheese, tuna or ham sandwich, with a bottle of water all next week. Those wanting to take up their kind offer are asked to ‘feel free to call in between 11.30am – 12.30pm’.
69 Corporation Street, Saint Helens, WA10 1SX
The Sandon Complex, Anfield
The Sandon Complex – which shut its doors last week due to Liverpool’s Tier 3 restrictions – will reopen throughout half-term to launch its own breakfast club. The Oakfield Road venue will open between 9am-11am, from Monday, October 26 – Friday, October 30, so school children and the elderly can enjoy a breakfast and hot drinks. Parents of school children will also be given hot drinks.
Morrisons, multiple stores
Morrisons is handing out 15,000 lunch boxes this half term as part of its new FareShare packed lunch scheme where shoppers can donate pre-packed bags to the food bank. Morrisons will distribute the bags across food banks and schools, allowing families to collect these from the most convenient places.