Southwark school team take emergency care parcels to help self-isolating families

Staff from Newlands Academy delivered more than 20 food parcels to their most vulnerable families across South London. Newlands Academy is part of Academies Enterprise Trust, a national family of schools.

The effort came after the team at Newlands Academy identified that their most vulnerable families would be unable to go shopping as usual due to their self-isolation procedures, and were at serious risk of running out of food. They had even had parents on the phone in tears worrying about how to feed their children.

On hearing this Barbara Smith, Catering Manager at Newlands Academy, immediately ordered extra food to the school so she could organise substantial food parcels for these families.

Barbara Smith said:

“It’s unimaginable to think that our children should go without food at this difficult time.”

Staff took these parcels across South London, visiting families from Waterloo to Surrey Quays, Tulse Hill and Croydon, to offer some vital help for the families who desperately needed it. On Tuesday March 24, they left school at 10:30am and spent the day on this effort, not returning until 9:30pm that night.

Gareth Howells, Principal of Newlands Academy, said:

“I was overwhelmed by the remarkable commitment and dedication of the school team to react so quickly to support our pupils and their families and make sure that the food parcels were delivered. This is an incredibly challenging time for everyone and I am proud that Newlands Academy could help in this small way.”