Restaurants up and down the country have stated they will offer free meals for children throughout the school holidays.
Following the news that MPs voted against Marcus Rashford’s campaign to extend free school meal vouchers through to Easter next year, some restaurants have taken things into their own hands.
The plan was defeated by a majority of 61 (322 to votes to 261).
6.3% of children are worried they will go hungry in the upcoming October half term, and more than 1.4 million children are currently experiencing food insecurity, according to Food Foundation.
Astoria bar in Urmston took to Instagram yesterday to announce that they will be offering all children free meals over half term.
The post said: “In response to the government’s refusal extend the free school meals across half term for vulnerable children ALL children over the half term, 26/10/20-20/10/20 will be entitled to any dish from our kids menu, for free, between 9am and 3pm.”
They added, ‘share wherever you can to help as many in need as possible’.
Similarly, The Courtyard in Wigan took to Facebook yesterday to announce that they will be providing free kids meals.
They added, “Let’s be honest they’re probably not gonna get 1 of their 5 a day here with our menu but we can fill their bellies.”
“his is available with complete discretion, we have to greet everyone at the door due to Covid guidelines so just quietly mention you’ve come for a school meal and we’ll provide what we can. You don’t need to buy anything yourselves, just let us help you if you need it next week.”
The Facebook post has racked up over 10,000 shares and almost 4,000 likes of support.
Khandoker Didsbury has also announced they will be happy to put together a hot meal.Â
In a Facebook post they said: “Voting against free school meals for kids in poverty is inhumane. If there are any parents struggling to feed there kids donât be ashamed.”
Their news became one of the many shared by Marcus Rashford on his Twitter where he said: “Blown away by news of local businesses stepping up to fill the voucher scheme deficit during the October half term. Selflessness, kindness, togetherness, this is the England I know”
Blown away by news of local businesses stepping up to fill the voucher scheme deficit during the October half term. Selflessness, kindness, togetherness, this is the England I know đ´ó §ó ˘ó Ľó Žó §ó ż
Add #ENDCHILDFOODPOVERTY to your tweets so I can track them. I will share as many as I can âĽď¸
Jo’s place in Wilmslow have reached out to parents and carers in the surrounding area who are offering free breakfasts or lunch to to those who will struggle without a the scheme.Â
Baker’s Tea Room in Bolton said: “We’re behind Marcus Rashford no parent should ever struggle to feed their children. Baker’s are offering free grab bags for all children on free school meals during half term. Please call us or message us and we’ll have their lunch ready to go from 12pm that day”
Minikin Art Cafe tweeted to say: “We will be providing a free hot baked potato with beans, fruit, snack & drink to the children of any families that may be feeling the pinch this half term.
“Whatever the situation, itâs NEVER the childâs fault.”
A doggy soft play area is preparing to reopen its doors in Greater Manchester for the new season and will be âbigger and better than beforeâ.
Bark N Bounce doggy daycare is set to reopen its doors next month at its site in Boothstown near Worsley, Salford. From Saturday April 1st, it will be offering stay and play sessions, birthday parties and breed meet-ups for puppies and dogs â a huge hit with owners.
It also offers a place to stay at the siteâs Keepers Boarding Kennels to have a run around, as owners can book a play session as part of their petâs stay.
The indoor and outdoor ball pools are hugely popular among the pet pooches, but thereâs plenty more to keep them entertained including an 18 ft bouncy castle with slides, tunnels and more for the doggos to explore and enjoy.
Bark N Bounce
The venue first opened as a secure outdoor field area in 2019, but later expanded with a 90ft indoor section too â allowing the animals to play in all weathers while their owners could keep dry too.
Now, as itâs all set for reopening for the spring and summer, some new additions are also being added, including a drinks trailer and some outdoor seating so that the human customers can enjoy a drink and a snack while their dogs are busy playing.
Owner Harley Chester said: “We’ll be opening from April 1st and can’t wait to see customers old and new. We’ll have all the equipment that the dogs love, including the bouncy castle, ball pools, tunnels and slides and are adding a few extra bits that we think people will love.”
Bark N Bounce
There are less weekend slots available for private bookings this year, meaning priority will be given to people with five or more dog bookings, with the remaining slots going live on the website from the end of March.
You can book on the stay and play group sessions, or book for private hire, for either just your dog, or your dog and their friends. Group Sessions cost ÂŁ15 and run for 90 minutes. Private sessions and birthday parties cost ÂŁ20 for up to two dogs, with additional dogs at ÂŁ10 each. These run for 55 minutes.
You can add extras including personalised banners, party hats, mini party bags, and a mini buffet. You will find Bark N Bounce at Keepers Cottage, Vicars Hall Lane, Boothstown, Manchester M28 1JA.
A hero Greater Manchester cop who saved a manâs life from drowning in a river has received an honour.
PC Mohammed Nadeem bravely dived 8ft into the freezing River Irwell in February 2018 to rescue a man in distress from the fast moving water. He stayed in the water with the man until a ladder was lowered down to retrieve them.
PC Nadeem had only joined the Greater Manchester Police force, in Bury, just a few months earlier and was still a student police officer at the time. He earned the nickname âThe Hoffâ for his selfless and heroic act, and after the name stuck, he even received praise from the Baywatch star himself.
David Hasselhoff recorded a special video for PC Nadeem for when he received the award at the national Police Bravery Awards. The heroic copper was awarded the Queenâs Commendation for Bravery â And features on this year’s Civilian Gallantry list â the last to have been handed out in the name of the late Queen Elizabeth.
— Greater Manchester Police (@gmpolice) July 13, 2018
A summary of PC Nadeemâs brave actions was released ahead of the awards ceremony, which read: “On Saturday February 17th 2018, police received a call of a distressed male on a bridge over the River Irwell.
âThe situation was particularly sensitive as the man, wanting to take his own life, was a veteran in a poor mental state. Several officers were deployed and on arrival the man had jumped into the water and was clearly in difficulty.
“PC Nadeem, on seeing the man had gone beneath the water, jumped into the River Irwell to save him. He jumped from an 8-foot drop, wearing body armour and personal safety equipment as there wasnât time to remove these items in case the man drowned.
Greater Manchester Police
“The water was fast moving, deep and very cold. The man was swimming away from the officer in the direction of an incredibly dangerous weir, as he was intent on drowning. PC Nadeem caught up with him, grabbed him and dragged him to the side.
“Both the man and PC Nadeem were suffering the effects of the freezing cold, but nevertheless, due to the difficult egress, PC Nadeem remained in the water with the man until a ladder was lowered down to assist them in getting out.”
Speaking at the time, he said: “I thought this person might not survive, so I jumped into the water to save him. Somehow I managed to get to him and bring him to a place of safety. I wouldnât say Iâm a good swimmer, especially in deep flowing water.
Greater Manchester Police
“But saving him is the best feeling in the job. We are there to protect people, to save people.”
After the awards were announced, Oliver Dowden MP, Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, said: “We all hope weâd react with courage in the face of danger. These people have lived through that test, and responded in the most admirable way.
“Their selfless actions have saved lives, and I want to express profound thanks for their willingness to put themselves in danger to protect others. They are all extremely worthy winners of the final Civilian Gallantry awards of Her Majesty the late Queen.”
A Manchester club has been met with criticism for hiring a dwarf actor to dress as a leprechaun for St Patrickâs Day.
Plans to feature a dwarf actor playing the role of a leprechaun at Cargo for its St Patrickâs Day party have now been scrapped following a backlash. The Printworks, home to Cargo, also stepped in to ensure the leprechaun element was pulled from the party which is being held today, Friday March 17th.
Students on a WhatsApp mailing list set up by the partyâs promoter DNA Events Manchester were sent a message earlier this week with details of the event, which read: âThis Friday we are hosting Manchesterâs biggest Paddyâs Day event at Cargo.Â
âThereâs a huge club dressing, plenty of Irish hats and handouts and weâve got our own dwarf leprechaun that will be going round the venue taking pictures all night.â
The flyer for the event called âRumour Paddyâs Day Specialâ, also featured a cartoon rendering of a leprechaun above a model wearing an âIrish hatâ.
@gregattheminiman.co.uk / Instagram
One Salford University student who received the message â who is from Ireland and did not wish to be named â told the Manchester Evening News: âObviously this is highly offensive. Iâve suffered high levels of racism, which doesnât seem to be held in the same regard as other kinds of racism in the UK. And this stereotypical leprechaun business is just ridiculous.
âObviously itâs been much discussed among university students who are Irish, and I know Iâve received several messages from people saying âoh my god, have you seen this? Itâs horribleâ. People saying âI cannot believe thatâs realâ. I was shocked but not surprised when I saw it. This kind of causal racism toward Irish people in the community is nothing new, particularly around this time of year.
âFrom my experience as an Irish person living in Manchester, I have suffered regular mocking of the accent and culture of where I am from and this sort of attitude has really impacted my experience living in the UK. There appears to be an expectation as an Irish person that we will laugh it off or tolerate treatment that would not be accepted by other ethnic groups which is really concerning in this day and age.â
Cargo
Manchester Councillor Pat Karney told the Manchester Evening News: âI thought we had left this Irish stereotyping behind us years ago. This is truly pathetic and an insult to every Irish person. I hope they withdraw this insulting nonsense.â
In a statement about the previous plans for the event, Jason Shay, centre director at Printworks, said: âWe were just as shocked as everyone else when we heard about the meet and greet element of this event, which is being delivered by a third party events promoter at one of our tenants.
âWe have worked quickly, alongside our tenant, to ensure that it was pulled immediately. We strongly felt it went against our values of being inclusive and doing things the right way.â
Printworks
In a statement, DNA Events said: âWe’re aware that there has been some negative press in regards to one of our DNA events being promoted as part of our Big St Patrick’s Day Weekender activity, specifically in relation to our engagement with a dwarf entertainer as part of our Rumour Friday Special event.
âDNA have worked with Greg from the Minimen agency for over a decade, alongside hundreds of other entertainers from all backgrounds and disciplines to provide the highest calibre of entertainment and showmanship. We’re proud to work with a wide diversity of performers and we have the utmost respect for Greg and his profession.
âThat being said, we also understand the importance of listening to our customers and making sure that the entertainment we do provide is done with sensitivity towards the issues of race and culture, alongside those of inclusivity and diversity.
Printworks
âAs such, we have taken the decision to cancel this element of the show while we consult with all of our entertainers, agencies and performers to ensure that we are promoting these important values which form the backbone of our business.â
In a further statement to the Manchester Evening News, actor and performer Gregory Doherty â who has appeared in the Harry Potter movies as well as Guy Ritchie’s Sherlock Holmes series â was originally booked to play the leprechaun for the event. He said: âAs you can imagine with a name like Doherty I am of Irish descent.
“Both my parents are Irish and I carry an Irish passport. I am incredibly proud to be of Irish heritage. I do not consider dressing up as a mythical creature offensive/or a racial slur against the people of Ireland.
@gregattheminiman.co.uk / Instagram
“Not sure if youâve ever travelled to Ireland on Saint Patrickâs Day, but the iconography of a leprechaun is as iconic as a shillelagh or a shamrock.
âI am sure these Irish cultural icons would not be considered âoffensiveâ or a slur against the Irish people. Of course, I cannot speak for all of the Irish living in Manchester, but I suspect you are listening to a vocal minority.
âThe problem with cultural icons like George and the Dragon [or] wearing Viking helmets [or] dressing up in a kilt on feast days and holidays – itâs not really the iconography of the image, itâs the people wearing them. Itâs the association with drunk and disorderly behaviour. That is what people are offended by.â