Local charity Fair Frome which runs the Food Bank and other projects have stepped up in support of the campaign by Marcus Rashford to provide free school meals during school holidays.

Fair Frome trustees have agreed that regardless of any futuregovernment funding they will support the 800 and rising children on income related free school meals in BA11 this Christmas holiday by providing every one of them with store vouchers equivalent to the cost of free school meals. The charity already runs a Food at Five Takeaway service three days per week in Frome providing nutritious hot meals free of charge to families and individuals on benefits and this will continue for the foreseeable future, including school holidays.

They will also provide support through special parcels full of food and Christmas fare to families referred by schools or the Frome Family Learning Partnership during the Christmas break. The food bank will continue to run as normal throughout the year.

Bob Ashford Chair of Trustees said: "Our staff and Trustees are concerned that children and families living with food poverty need as much help as possible during this difficult period without uncertainties about where their next meal will come from. We have seen a big rise in referrals to our foodbank and other services and unfortunately, we believe this will continue for the foreseeable future. With the generous support of the Frome community, our staff, and volunteers we will do everythingwe can to make a difference."

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