How you can help prevent local children going hungry over the school holidays
**Updated 25th October 2020**
One of the reasons I love living in Guildford and am so proud to be the Lib Dem Parliamentary Spokesperson is the huge amounts of passion and generosity that local people have.
Following the Government's decision not to extend free school meals through the school holidays social media has lit up with people asking two questions:
- How could the Government do that?
- How can I help?
I've spent the past 24 hours speaking with Caroline Reeves and Julia McShane who are two of the Lib Dem exec members at Guildford Borough Council and researching the help that is available in Guildford and how local people can support this. Thanks also go to Cllr Liz Townsend who let me know the information about Cranleigh Foodbank and I'm also in conversation with Cranleigh's Lib Dem Councillors Ruth Reed and Richard Cole, and Waverley Borough Council Deputy Leader Paul Follows about what else is available in the area.
I know so many local people want to help and so I am sharing the information in order to help enable that. Thank you to everyone reading and the support you are giving to local children and families in need.
Guildford
Guildford Borough Council is partnering with Foodwise TLC to provide meals to local families who need them, helping with storage of the meals and delivery to families.
- If you need this help please speak to your school who will be able to help you get referred.
- If you would like to donate to help fund these you can do so via their website.
- You can also contact Guildford Borough Council direct to ask for help, they are open Monday - Thursday: 8.30am-5pm (4.30pm Friday):
📞01483 444400
👉bit.ly/3hTG6Ti
Stoke Community Support is providing support cooked meals to families who need them that are linked to Christ's College, Weyfield Primary and Guildford Nursery School and Children's Centre.
- If you need this help please speak to your school.
- To find out more and/or donate go to https://stokecommunitysupport.com/
North Guildford Foodbank and Salvation Army Foodbank are continuing to provide food parcels to local people in need. You can find out more and donate via their websites - just click their names above and you will be taken to the websites.
Guildford Action continue to work to support local families, you can make a donation to help them continue to do this by clicking here.
Bench Bar, Surrey Sports Park is offering free meals Monday 26th to Friday 30th 12-2pm to those children who would normally receive free school meals. For more information see their Facebook or Twitter.
Pho Restaurant, Tunsgate Quarter, Guildford (and another 24 across the country) are pledging to give 250 packed lunches to children who need them. You can find out more information here.
Love Brownies, Guildford have said that if any parents need a hand over half term (26-30th October) with school meals they should come in and they will provide a packed lunch (cheese or ham sandwich, a piece of fruit and a drink). They have said the offer is available with the utmost and complete discretion, and no other purchase is necessary. All they ask is for parents to coming to Love Brownies, sanitise their hands and ask for a kid's packed lunch.
Cranleigh
Cranleigh Foodbank who are continuing their tireless work supporting local people. Click the link for more information.
- If you'd like to make a donation of items to the Foodbank there are drop off points at Sainsbury's and Co-op in the village, and OneStop on the Elmbridge Road
The Richard Onslow, High Street, Cranleigh is providing free meals for children at lunchtime Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.
Glebelands School is running a scheme to ensure children who receive FSM do not go hungry over half term. Local cllrs are in communication with them about how the community can best support this.
*Please note, there may be other organisations I haven't mentioned so please let me know if you are aware of any others and I will add them to the list.
It's important to add that I know that schools across Guildford, Cranleigh the surrounding village are also working really hard to look after families and children who need it at this time. Many are using their limited school funds to do so and are asking for donations from those in their community who can afford to.
If you felt that you wanted to make a donation to your local school directly the best thing to do is contact them by email after half term and ask how to do this. (School offices won't be open over half term and also staff have been working so hard and they deserve as much of a rest as possible over half term.)
Again, thank you for the love and support you are giving to families in need at this difficult time - Guildford and Cranleigh you are amazing!
Take care and stay safe,
Zöe Franklin
Parliamentary Spokesperson for Guildford, Cranleigh and our Villages
24th October 2020