Vulnerable children all across the globe suffer hugely during the holidays as they do not have access to the food that they are able to eat whilst they are at school. With the help of the massively influential footballing superstar (Marcus Rashford) a light is being shone on a topic that needs attention.

The England and Manchester United striker (Marcus Rashford) has forced Boris Johnson into a U-turn over providing food vouchers to some of England’s most innocent and vulnerable families after a campaign was installed by Rashford to raise awareness of the plethora of underprivileged children who are receiving inadequate amounts of food.

In an embarrassing attempt to cover himself up, the prime minister claimed that he had called the England striker to explain the reversal and that he had only become aware of Rashfords intentions earlier in that day. This phone call was made 24 hours before No 10 had rejected Rashfords request for the government to supply £15 a week vouchers, with ministers being sent out to defend the government. However, with the help of the campaign, this motivated conservative MPs to even threaten to rebel against the government if the petition did not pass. In retreat, Downing Street introduced a new £120 million food fund during COVID summer for 1.4 million children across England.

During the corona virus daily briefing, Johnson proceeded to congratulate Rashford on his efforts to make the world a better place by saying: “I thank him for what he’s done.” Rashford, 22, who has already gone public about the hardships he had faced when he was younger, wrote on Twitter “I don’t even know what to say. Just look at what we can do when we come together, THIS is England in 2020.”

The Manchester United striker expressed his “despair” on October 20th 2020 ,fresh from scoring his game winner against PSG in the champions league, as Labours joint plea with Rashford for school meals to be extended over the holidays to stop children going hungry was ignored by the government. In a heartfelt Commons debate, many MPs paid respect to Rashfords campaign to terminate child food poverty. Despite the unsettlement in the Tory benches, the decision to provide 1.4m deprived children in England with £15 a week food vouchers during holidays until Easter 2021 was voted down. 

In retaliation, Rashford came out with the thought provoking statement “This is not politics, this is humanity,” having already received an MBE in the Queens birthday honours list this month. In a statement on Twitter following the Commons vote, Rashford struck many hearts by saying: “Put aside all the noise, the digs, party politics and let’s focus on the reality. A significant number of children are going to bed tonight not only hungry but feeling like they do not matter because of comments that have been made.”

With the livelihoods of many impoverished children in the hands of a poorly lead government, people need to be made aware that these vulnerable children need help. Whether that be petitions that spread awareness or protests that encourage change, something must happen and it needs to happen soon.