Manchester United’s Marcus Rashford has demanded that the UK Government ends child poverty after launching a public petition detailing how the important social issue can be eradicated which is now set to be debated in Parliament.
Rashford, 22, has spent his entire sporting career with United after joining their famous youth academy in 2005 and has since gone on to become a senior first-team regular after scoring twice on his first full European debut. The English attacker’s two second-half goals against Midtjylland in the Europa League in February 2016 meant he became his club’s youngest ever European goalscorer.
Arguably Rashford’s most prolific campaign was last season, despite suffering a nasty back injury at the mid-way point, United’s number-ten racked up 33 direct goal involvements in 44 matches in all competitions.
However, in addition to the back pages, Rashford has also been making the headlines on the front papers.
Since the youngster was ruled out for the second-half of last season has thrown all his efforts into resolving social issues such as hunger and child poverty.
After teaming up with Fareshare earlier this year, a scheme designed to ensure that community’s most vulnerable do not go hungry, especially during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, Rashford was also the driving force behind the UK Gov’s U-turn on their decision to end free school meals.
Rashford’s social efforts and passion to improve living conditions for the country’s most unfortunate have seen him recently be awarded with an ‘MBE’ from The Queen, as per BBC Sport.
However, after all his hard work, the 22-year-old is not done there. The latest in Rashford’s efforts come in the form of calling for the UK Gov to put a complete end to child food poverty.
Remember when I said I was going to need your help…
For the millions who do not have the platform to be heard.
Let’s stand as a ‘United’ Kingdom to #endchildfoodpoverty
Sign the petition today: https://t.co/FvvpO6JYWX
— Marcus Rashford MBE (@MarcusRashford) October 15, 2020
The English attacker has recently launched a petition, which will be debated in Parliament once it reaches 100,000 signatures, which includes a thorough plan of how funds should be allocated.
Rashford’s petition which can be found here which states:
“Covid-19 has been tough on us all but Government should ensure children don’t pay the price:
– 14% of parents & 10% of children have experienced food insecurity over the last 6 months
– 32% of families have lost income as a result of Covid-19
– Demand for food banks this winter is predicted to be 61% higher than last.
With the Child Food Poverty Taskforce, I am calling for Government to allocate money to
– Expand free school meals to all under-16s where a parent or guardian is in receipt of Universal Credit or equivalent benefit
– Provide meals & activities during all holidays
– Increase the value of Healthy Start vouchers to at least £4.25 per week, and expand the scheme.
These 3 recommendations must be implemented without delay to endchildfoodpoverty.”
At the time of publish, Rashford’s petition has 37,847 signatures which is increasing every second.
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