MARCUS Rashford has highlighted Bradford City’s charity providing more than 750 free meals to children and young people in need of support in the district this week.

The Manchester United and England forward, who has spearheaded a national campaign to extend free meals for children during the school holidays showed his support to the Bantams’ Community Foundation scheme on Twitter last night.

Rashford has publicised a string of councils and businesses across the country - including many in the Bradford district - who are stepping in to provide free food to those in need during the pandemic.

The Hub - situated beneath the Bantams’ The City Shop at the Utilita Energy Stadium - will be open between 11.30am and 1.30pm from today until Friday October 30, serving fresh, hot meals to children who are in need.

 

Over the October half-term, the club will work in conjunction with Bradford Council, which has provided Bradford City Community Foundation with the funding to make this possible, ensuring hundreds of vulnerable youngsters are fed.

Support has also come from the Yorkshire Community and Leisure Complex, who have kindly agreed to organise and distribute the food in a Covid-19-secure manner.

 

Qasim Akhtar, of Bradford City Community Foundation, who has organised and helped provide the service, said: “There has been a lot of media coverage around the lack of support for children and families during the holidays over the past few weeks.

“Marcus Rashford has done an amazing job in bringing this to the attention of the general public.

“The response it has received from hundreds of organisations across the country has been phenomenal.

“Without delving into the politics around the matter, Bradford City Football Club has one clear message: that no child or young person should ever have to go hungry. We will support our community however we can.

“I would like to thank Bradford Metropolitan District Council and the Yorkshire Community and Leisure Complex, for their outstanding commitment to the people of Bradford.”

Those who require food are kindly asked to text their name to 07462 248610 or e-mail qasim.akhtar@bcfccommunity.co.uk with details on the days they would like to collect a meal - and how many meals they require.