London Mayor proposes to extend free holiday meals

The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, has announced plans to extend funding to his free holiday meals programme, by proposing to spend £4m in his 2024/25 budget to continue the programme.

This will extend a partnership with the Mayor’s Fund for London and The Felix Project that has helped to deliver more than 10.1m free meals to families across the capital since April 2023.

Sadiq’s action comes as polling from YouGov, commissioned by City Hall, found that more than a third (35 per cent) of parents or carers of children under 18 are buying less food and essentials, with 41 per cent using less water, energy or fuel to help them manage living costs. Three in ten (30 per cent) say they are ‘financially struggling’.

The Mayor’s proposed extension of the scheme will help reach low-income families and young people with ready-made and cook-at-home meals, with The Felix Project also delivering surplus food from a range of suppliers to nearly 1,000 charity organisations and schools, and The Mayor’s Fund providing free healthy meals through more than 340 community partners and 90 Kitchen Social hubs alongside a range of school holiday activities. These also help to provide constructive activities for young people, tackling isolation and helping them learn about health and nutrition.

The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan said: “I’m immensely proud that our funding for free holiday meals has already helped to deliver more than 10m free meals to hundreds of thousands of London families and young people. Londoners continue to struggle with the cost-of-living crisis with families worrying about how to feed their children, which is why I’m stepping in with a proposed £4m funding to deliver these vital meals for another year. By helping to provide healthy meals alongside activities for young people during school holidays, we’re building a fairer and better London for all.”