Around 80 members of the University of Nottingham football team helped children in Lenton who could not receive free school meals during half-term by handing out packed lunches.
The University of Nottingham football team were left disappointed by the lack of government support and decided to take things into their own hands following a rejected Labour motion.
Manchester United and England footballer Marcus Rashford, who is pioneering the campaign to fight child hunger, appealed for cross-party support in a motion proposed by Labour to ensure no young person would go hungry during school holidays until Easter 2021.
But MPs rejected the motion by 322 votes to 261 last month.
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Helping young people in Lenton, Nottingham, the group of students purchased food using their own money to provide 200 lunches, and handed out on average ten per day throughout the week.
The food leftover will be given to food banks in order for others to still feel the benefit.
The students, teaming up with St Paul’s Roman Catholic Church, provided lunch packs which included either a ham or cheese sandwich, a juice box, a piece of fruit, a packet of crisps and a biscuit or chocolate bar.
Max Adler, charity secretary for the university football team, said the coronavirus pandemic has made it even more important to help those in a time of need.
“Following the government’s decision not to provide free school meals for school children over the half-term holidays, we decided to help the community,” he told Platform.
“We understand the difficult times we are living in and we firmly believe that no child should ever have to go hungry.”
Nottingham students have made headlines locally and nationally with Nottinghamshire Police having to hand out several fines to young people breaking rules during lockdown, but Max hopes the local community will see their outward support as a light in the dark.
WE DON’T WANT TO BE SEEN LIKE NOISY STUDENTS, WE JUST WANT TO HELP PEOPLE OUT
MAX ADLER, UNI OF NOTTINGHAM STUDENT
The 22-year-old said: “The reception we have had is amazing. While students get looked down, so do members of sports clubs – they’re often known to be quite loud and noisy, the alpha group.
“But we don’t want to be seen like that, we just want to help people out hence we do so much charity and welfare work off the pitch.
“We have a welfare workshop soon where internally we can make sure that everyone’s mental health is fine and no-one is left behind.
“In that respect, we take a lot of consideration of those within our circles and the outer community – so it’s great to shed a light on the positive actions done by students.”
By Matt Lee
Lead image & inset: Max Adler