Praise for Bolton free school meal hampers ­— as it's announced families to receive half-term voucher

The announcement was made as local schools and Town Hall chiefs praised Bolton's catering service for the food parcels it has been providing to cash-strapped families during lockdown ­— as families elsewhere in the country shared pictures of the meagre food parcels they had received.

And it has been a very different picture in Bolton, with one headteacher sharing a food parcel put together by the team at Bolton Council ­— which was then topped up by a generous donation.

Jenni Willis, head of St Teresa's RC School in Little Lever, said: "We were so pleased with the boxes which came from our Bolton School Meals service and we also had a donation, which shows the whole community pulling together.

"There is fresh fruit and vegetables, bread, cheese, potatoes, pasta, cans of tomatoes ­— it is what you would give children for lunch, I am a mum it contained what you needed."

Some families dropped by school to collect the parcels, otherwise the school site manager and teaching assistants took the parcels direct to families.

She added: "I am so proud of the children, the whole community. Everybody is working under extremely difficult circumstances but everybody is doing their best. We have had at least 90 per cent of engagement with all our remote learners. I am really really proud of them."

Bolton Council's school catering service is currently serving up a range of options for families.

The service has also teamed up with local charity Urban Outreach who are also delivering food parcels and packed lunches to parents unable to come into school because they are isolating.

(Healthy meals put together by Bolton Council's catering department)

Cllr Adele Warren, Executive Cabinet Member for Environmental Services Delivery said: "The council's school catering service has been doing a fantastic job putting together great quality packed lunches and food parcels during the latest lockdown. These have been a lifeline for children on free school meals, and parents seem really happy with the quality of what's being provided.

"Bolton's schools are of course currently open for the children of critical workers - and where these pupils are on free school meals the catering service is providing a choice of a hot meal or packed lunch in school.

"There has been a lot of criticism of food parcels this week on social media however I'm pleased to report that in Bolton we are getting it right and providing a good balance of nutritious food and ingredients in the food parcels.

"The photos we've seen online and in the news this week aren't representative of what families in Bolton are receiving.

"I'm proud of the work the schools catering service is doing during the lockdown. Staff are doing their best to make sure all our children, whether they are in school or studying from home, are getting properly fed at this difficult time.

"We welcome feedback from parents - but please don't be afraid to tell us if you are happy with the food parcels or packed lunches!"

(Bolton's hamper a far cry from this which hit headlines this week)

From Monday, parents can choose food vouchers, packed lunches or food parcels if their child is not attending school. The schools catering service is currently discussing with each school in the borough which option parents.

Additional funding of £3.50 per pupil per week means the parcels can be even better.

Food parcels food parcels typically contain items including bread, pasta, fresh fruit and vegetables, yoghurts, milk, cheese tinned tomatoes and beans.

Bolton Council has also confirmed that help will be made available to families during the February half-term week.

Bolton Council’s Executive Cabinet Member for Children’s Services, Cllr Anne Galloway, said: “With February half term coming up, all children receiving free school meals will automatically be getting £20 vouchers for the week to cover the cost of food. The Council is providing this from the Covid Winter Support Grant of £1.1 million from the Government.

“The vouchers will also be provided to families who receive Council Tax support and have pre-school age children and children aged 16-19. Over 14,000 children across the borough will benefit. The pandemic is causing a lot of families to struggle financially and this will help to ease the pressures they are facing.”