'They deserve a medal' - sisters deliver meals to homeschoolers and donate tablets

Volunteers Megan, 26 and Grace Cox, 21 - the daughters of Richmond School learning mentor Mrs Mel Cox - have been back on the road again after first offering their services in March.

And it looks like they will also be busy through half term after the school found funds to continue the service.

Megan and Grace are both currently furloughed from Butlins in Skegness and wanted to help during the pandemic.

As well as delivering free meals, they have also donated two tablets so disadvantaged pupils can access the remote learning and continue their studies

Joanne Hazard, of the Richmond School, said: "These two sisters really ought to be put forward for some sort of local or community champion award.

"They have been eager to help our community as this has given them something to do, whilst sticking to the social-distancing rules.

"They have both been first to step forward to help our school in any way they can.

"In March, they helped organise and deliver free school meals to our local families every week during the first lockdown.

"Since then we have had Christmas hampers to deliver and now weekly free school meals again.

"In addition to this, as a school we have organised homeschooling packs to run alongside our pupils online learning.

"We thought this initiative would be a great help to parents and children at home. They have also delivered those.

"Both girls were shocked to hear of the amount of children living in hardship, nationally not just locally, so felt they could help a little by supporting our school community.

"After an appeal by Deputy Headteacher Ricki Danks for devices to allow children to access remote learning, they looked at their own unused devices.

"Unfortunately, they were too old to update, so they each purchased a tablet and donated to school to enable two pupils to access their education.

"These two young ladies are an absolute credit to our whole community and our school would like to thank them for their help."

Prime Minister Boris Johnson has confirmed free school meals will be extended until March 8 but not include half term.

At the Richmond School, children eligible for free meals who are in class are receiving cooked lunches.

This will remain in place until all children are back in school. All lunches and food parcels are provided by First Meals.

Although the funding for half term is coming from the Covid Winter Grant, Lincolnshire County Council are passing this on to schools so food parcels will go out on Friday, February 12, for parents to use over half term.

Coun Mrs Patricia Bradwell OBE, executive member for children's services, said: "Lincolnshire schools receive government funding to provide free school meals for eligible children during term time. During lockdown, schools are expected to continue to support these children even if they are not in school, with each school deciding whether to provide food parcels or vouchers.

"At the end of last year, the county council was awarded £2.2m as part of the government's Winter Grant Scheme, which is designed to help vulnerable families meet the cost of food and other essentials during this difficult period, including over the February half-term.

"Over half the money is being provided to schools to support children who are eligible for free school meals, with each school again deciding the best form for this support to take."

Headteacher of the Richmond School, Mrs Caroline Wellsted commented: "I would like to thank First Meals and our volunteers for all their hard work supporting us with this project."