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

Chartwells is a terrible company. As soon as I saw their name, the story made sense. I didn't realize they were in multiple counties. They do the food for many university cafeterias. Their quality is not good, and the cost is insane.

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?

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.

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!

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

In our district they give you a weeks worth of what they give at school lunch frozen for lunch and dinner. Just pull up to the school and they deliver to your car. Also when the kids are in school it’s all free. Yes this is Indiana in the USA.

Aw, this is sad. Hopefully, things will change.

We don't get this in Australia. Is this normal? Providing school food?

Jesus that is insane. I LIve in illinois and they issued EBT cards to all kids who get free lunch. Now in my county literally everyone in my school district gets free lunch. I was expecting maybe $20 a week (or less than $100 per month) we got it preloaded with 3 1/2 months on it because it took so long to get it out. We received $160 a month for our one child. Families receive a card for each child. So if you have 3 kids you receive almost $500 a month, to help feed them.

The most heartbreaking post I've ever seen. Likely to turn me into a David Icken fan: Keep them poor and then mock them for not having what it takes to feed themselves while making a huge profit. Shame is not the word.

This is terrible! I'm from the US, and usually, I admit, my country does thing the stupid, a**-backwards way. But in this one instance, we got it right. We DO offer food parcels to low income kids who are not in physical school. But they also give us 'Pandemic-EBT' cards. Similar to your vouchers, I'd think. Ours are pre-loaded with the allocated funds (about $5 per kid per school day, I think), and we just take them to the grocery store, pick out whatever we choose (except alcohol or tobacco, ofc) and use them like food stamp cards. Works perfectly. I will say, though, I've been to a food bank on occasion (not at the school, just in general), and the parcels we're given there can be pretty bad, sometimes.

Thought this only happens in the USA

Make the owners eat that and let them have no other foods!

I expect Chartwells' response will be something along the lines of: "We welcome this opportunity to engage with our partners and stakeholders and we are exited to move forward synergistically while providing an uplifting and empowering experience."

Chartwells is also our school's meal provider and they are awful. Small portions of gross or very basic items. At almost 3$ a day for lunch and almost 2$ for breakfast. They are contracted through the county. Its horrible.

I converted to dollars. My hubby & I could eat for five days on that sum. We frequently *do*. Shame on people leaving children hungry! I was sometimes painfully hungry as a kid (various reason) and I hope these jerks get chiggers in their... ah.... posterior fundamental orifices.

Not on the same level of needs but... I remember when my high school (several years after I graduated) required students to buy a laptop. The requirements were understandable since it was private catholic all girls prep school.... but the woman put in charge of choosing the laptops must have been getting at least a minor kickback because the laptop was a very specific, expensive one that broke SOOO easily. If I had been going to the school when they required these laptops I wouldn't have been able to afford one either.

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I’m going to have to say: people working to supplement food insecurity/shortage programs would do well to actually take into consideration budget masters and nutrition specialists. I don’t think anyone should have kids if they can’t afford or don’t want to, because this is a reality. That said, let’s help people get back on their feet so they can help themselves and eventually help others (if they can). Like pay your taxes. I have student loans for the far seeable future, but I can at least donate food and toiletries. Jesus Christ, why are some rich people so stingy. No one should go without food and shelter. If you’re a person on government welfare programs, go ahead and get yourself a steak but m**********r don’t use that money for a brand name bag when your child goes hungry. Sorry. I haven’t slept in over a day. I lost count of how many times it’s been this monthZ***EDIT: the part about not having children if you can’t afford to is insensitive. This comment is not about the programs during the pandemic and not specific to the UK.

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Firstly, the meal was not correct and did not contain all the items they usually send. Secondly, they are only paid £10.50 for the food including costs to post it. NB - the reason why parents don’t get vouchers anymore is because the food money was converted into alcohol or unhealthy alternatives. Finally, it’s FREE food... Let’s see how many kids in the US parents who would turn up their noses at even this wrong order...