Footballer Marcus Rashford hits back at school refusing to feed children ‘in debt’

A Welsh school hit the news earlier this week for refusing to feed children whose meal accounts are more than a penny in debt.

Headteacher Neil Foden warned parents that the school cook had been instructed not to serve lunch to any child ‘if their debt has not been cleared’. Foden also controversially added that the children would also be refused food if their account does not ‘have enough money’ to cover the meal. The reason behind the drastic measures is, according to Foden, that the Welsh school had run up debts totalling more than £1,800 at the end of last year. However, after sparking an outrage among local parents, the school's e-mail also got the attention of footballer Marcus Rashford, who took to Twitter to express his disappointment at the decision made by Ysgol Dyffryn Nantlle secondary school in Penygroes, Gwynedd.

Has the pandemic not taught us anything? Can we not be understanding? Come on now… https://t.co/kGKbgaEbhs

— Marcus Rashford MBE (@MarcusRashford) November 11, 2021

The 24-year-old has previously successfully campaigned to secure free meals for vulnerable children throughout the pandemic, and recently received an MBE for his work.

Upon learning about the Welsh principals' decision to deny food to children who owe money on their school meal accounts, Rashford quote-tweeted a letter sent to parents about the secondary school’s decision alongside the story.

The Manchester United star, who is an active social justice campaigner on child food poverty, wrote:

‘Has the pandemic not taught us anything? Can we not be understanding? Come on now…’

‘For many children, lunch at school is the only meal they’ll get…’, he added later.

According to Metro, the move by Ysgol Dyffryn Nantlle secondary school also caught the attention of Jeremy Miles, Welsh Minister for Education, who stated:

‘I am concerned by this; I don’t want any child to go hungry. I expect schools and local authorities to work with families having difficulties with payments. My officials have contacted the council; they have apologised and are in contact with the school.’