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Mom Calls Out The Government After Comparing What She Could Buy For £30 Vs. What The Government Bought For £30
While I absolutely love the United Kingdom, its culture, nature, and food, even I can’t deny that some of the things going on there during the Covid-19 pandemic range from full-on dystopian to just downright dingy. Case in point, parents, regular Brits, and celebs alike are up in arms over the free school meal parcels handed out to low-income families by the firm Chartwells.
After Twitter user Roadside Mum posted a photo of the meager food parcel provided by the firm, the story was almost immediately picked up by internet users and the media. She wasn’t the only one to get such a package, either. Even footballer and free school meal campaigner Marcus Rashford got involved, speaking with Chartwells. Meanwhile, the UK Government has also begun investigating the situation with its food suppliers.
Let’s call a spade a spade: some of the food packages sent by Chartwells look pathetic. The pandemic is a difficult time for all of us—laypeople and businesses alike—but it’s no excuse to skimp out on feeding Britain’s future leaders. Does this pile of food look like it’s worth 30 pounds and is supposed to last 10 school days like Roadside Mum thought? Not even close! It looks like something you could pick up at your local shop for around a fiver.
Bored Panda has reached out to Rashford, Roadside Mum, Chartwells, as well as Keil Starmer, the leader of the Labour Party, for further comments on the situation.
RELATED:
A British mum started a storm online after she shared a photo of the free school meal parcel her family got that was supposedly meant to be worth 30 pounds
Image credits: RoadsideMum
Image credits: RoadsideMum
What British food package wouldn’t be complete without a can of beans, right? Pity it doesn’t make up for the meager quantity of food. To be fair, Chartwells has apologized. They stated that the food was only meant to last a single school week, not two; however, they accepted the fact that an insufficient amount was delivered in some cases.
“This does not reflect the specification of one of our hampers,” the firm wrote on Twitter. They also specified what kind of nutritious food was supposed to arrive in the free school meal hampers. Chartwells is also not the only British firm to deliver food hampers to students while they’re distance-learning from home during the latest lockdown.
Chartwells also claims that instead of 30 pounds, the charge for food, distribution, and packaging was allegedly 10.50 pounds.
Footballer Rashford called the situation “unacceptable” and urged everyone to do better. Meanwhile, a representative of the Labour Party told Bored Panda that they have called upon the UK Government to restart the national food vouchers scheme.
Twitter users were astonished that this happened and commented online
Image credits: Munchbunch87
Even footballer Marcus Rashford, known for his great support of free school meal vouchers, pitched in with his opinion
Image credits: MarcusRashford
Image credits: MarcusRashford
Other parents quickly shared photos of the food hampers their children received. The images are shocking
Image credits: Chef1Wayner
Image credits: HelenaFinch
Image credits: kiasaas
Image credits: Sophie202327
Image credits: nickb123452
Image credits: shirleyjones999
Image credits: BootstrapCook
Image credits: BootstrapCook
The Department for Education is looking into the situation while Chartwells, one of the firms delivering free food, apologized
Image credits: educationgovuk
Some Twitter users calculated how much the food in the photos was actually worth
Image credits: ShowTrialStudio
Image credits: Aarondonegal
Here’s what others said about the entire situation
Image credits: sallymiranda
Image credits: PALythgoe
Image credits: jcshy
Image credits: AdeFashina
Image credits: MoaningLefty
Image credits: lishunter
Image credits: ComedyDave
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What do you think ?
Hooked 4 years ago
This actually made my eyes tear a bit. Disgusting. I would like to see the plan they submitted with which they won the bidding for this project. There has to be something in there that convinced the Department of Education to grant it to them
Carrie Laughs 4 years ago
Yeah.. usually they are mates. The government has got to stop awarding contracts to their besties.
Load More Replies...
Liam Walsh 4 years ago
Yes and no... These days these things get called out, made public and the company shamed. What surprises me is that companies haven't cottoned on to that small detail yet and don't try harder in the first place. I'm hoping that they will genuinely make an effort to improve these - or sort out a decent voucher program so that parents can make the choices. Some children have special dietary requirements which this in no way takes into account.
Load More Replies...
Nikki Sevven 4 years ago
So taxpayers are paying for rotten veg, meat that's nearly expired, tiny portions of rice and pasta (which are cheap af), plastic wrapped fake cheese slices? Did Chartwell dig through someone's compost heap for this crap? Unbelievable. They should have just provided vouchers for local markets.
Lucas 4 years ago
I've just read that schools could choose to offer vouchers or food parcels. It is claimed that 75% chose the vouchers. There shouldn't be that level of disparity between the value of hte vouchers and the parcels though. They are supposed to be improving the parcels from Monday... we shall see.
Load More Replies... Hans 4 years ago
Could someone from the UK explain this a bit? I mean, it is obvious that packing and distributing costs more than grocery shopping. But do people cook this by themselves, or does it get prepared in any way?
Lucas 4 years ago
Briefly - food for school children who are missing school meals while out of school due to Covid. Parents having extra food expenditure due to their children being at home. Food parcel with tins, dried and fresh produce for people to cook themselves.
Load More Replies...
Viktor Feurer 4 years ago
Chartwells' CEO and board should spend the next few years in prison. And the company must be wiped out from existence.
Sandij D 4 years ago
In the US this is called 'privatization'. It's done for food, prisons, schools/education, etc. There is often a relationship between the politicians & these companies (donors/supporters). This is also true for other contracts - see: $10,000 toilet seats. It is, in a word, corruption.
Elizabeth Molloy 4 years ago
Boris has already stated that they are looking into it. Surely the vouchers make more sense? I can do a massive shop at Aldi for under a tenner!
Lucas 4 years ago
Allegedly 75% of schools chose to go with vouchers and not the parcels - one wonders why but then I'm a cynical bastard. The company has apologised and the Education Secretary has jumped up and down squeaking about how bad this is - ugh, Gavin Williamson you are a huge waste of space. They have promised to do better from Monday and increase the value of the parcel. Which apparently was meant to be £10.50 for one week and not £30 for two weeks - but even knowing that it is still bad.
Load More Replies...
Joe S 4 years ago
Another example of selfishness & greed by companies that should have to justify how they think this is acceptable. I'm f*cking fed up of business's that think they're untouchable (Grenfell's Arconic anyone?) You take the p*ss and you should have to deal with the consequences of your selfish actions.
Dave P 4 years ago
Let's explain how govt purchasing works for that 30. They need to cover costs of compliance officers, lawyers for all the govt paperwork, staff to keep track of every purchase and disbursment, etc. Once all those expenses are out of the way they can then use the rest to buy food. This is why these programs are ineffecient
Ren Karlej 4 years ago
Government contract to a private company so not exactly like that. Avoiding those issues are the very reason private companies get utilised - though this requires much greater scrutiny for many reasons. However, I agree that these things are inefficient. The company has buying power and so should get items at a much cheaper price than anyone just popping to the supermarket but they do have logistics to pay for. This is why a voucher system would be far better. The company has accepted they've done badly and investigations are taking place - which will only add to the bill unfortunately. Though it is necessary. A mess. Marcus Rashford for PM! Once he's finished playing footie.
Load More Replies... Hooked 4 years ago
This actually made my eyes tear a bit. Disgusting. I would like to see the plan they submitted with which they won the bidding for this project. There has to be something in there that convinced the Department of Education to grant it to them
Carrie Laughs 4 years ago
Yeah.. usually they are mates. The government has got to stop awarding contracts to their besties.
Load More Replies... Liam Walsh 4 years ago
Yes and no... These days these things get called out, made public and the company shamed. What surprises me is that companies haven't cottoned on to that small detail yet and don't try harder in the first place. I'm hoping that they will genuinely make an effort to improve these - or sort out a decent voucher program so that parents can make the choices. Some children have special dietary requirements which this in no way takes into account.
Load More Replies... Nikki Sevven 4 years ago
So taxpayers are paying for rotten veg, meat that's nearly expired, tiny portions of rice and pasta (which are cheap af), plastic wrapped fake cheese slices? Did Chartwell dig through someone's compost heap for this crap? Unbelievable. They should have just provided vouchers for local markets.
Lucas 4 years ago
I've just read that schools could choose to offer vouchers or food parcels. It is claimed that 75% chose the vouchers. There shouldn't be that level of disparity between the value of hte vouchers and the parcels though. They are supposed to be improving the parcels from Monday... we shall see.
Load More Replies... Hans 4 years ago
Could someone from the UK explain this a bit? I mean, it is obvious that packing and distributing costs more than grocery shopping. But do people cook this by themselves, or does it get prepared in any way?
Lucas 4 years ago
Briefly - food for school children who are missing school meals while out of school due to Covid. Parents having extra food expenditure due to their children being at home. Food parcel with tins, dried and fresh produce for people to cook themselves.
Load More Replies... Viktor Feurer 4 years ago
Chartwells' CEO and board should spend the next few years in prison. And the company must be wiped out from existence.
Sandij D 4 years ago
In the US this is called 'privatization'. It's done for food, prisons, schools/education, etc. There is often a relationship between the politicians & these companies (donors/supporters). This is also true for other contracts - see: $10,000 toilet seats. It is, in a word, corruption.
Elizabeth Molloy 4 years ago
Boris has already stated that they are looking into it. Surely the vouchers make more sense? I can do a massive shop at Aldi for under a tenner!
Lucas 4 years ago
Allegedly 75% of schools chose to go with vouchers and not the parcels - one wonders why but then I'm a cynical bastard. The company has apologised and the Education Secretary has jumped up and down squeaking about how bad this is - ugh, Gavin Williamson you are a huge waste of space. They have promised to do better from Monday and increase the value of the parcel. Which apparently was meant to be £10.50 for one week and not £30 for two weeks - but even knowing that it is still bad.
Load More Replies... Joe S 4 years ago
Another example of selfishness & greed by companies that should have to justify how they think this is acceptable. I'm f*cking fed up of business's that think they're untouchable (Grenfell's Arconic anyone?) You take the p*ss and you should have to deal with the consequences of your selfish actions.
Dave P 4 years ago
Let's explain how govt purchasing works for that 30. They need to cover costs of compliance officers, lawyers for all the govt paperwork, staff to keep track of every purchase and disbursment, etc. Once all those expenses are out of the way they can then use the rest to buy food. This is why these programs are ineffecient
Ren Karlej 4 years ago
Government contract to a private company so not exactly like that. Avoiding those issues are the very reason private companies get utilised - though this requires much greater scrutiny for many reasons. However, I agree that these things are inefficient. The company has buying power and so should get items at a much cheaper price than anyone just popping to the supermarket but they do have logistics to pay for. This is why a voucher system would be far better. The company has accepted they've done badly and investigations are taking place - which will only add to the bill unfortunately. Though it is necessary. A mess. Marcus Rashford for PM! Once he's finished playing footie.
Load More Replies...
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