KEY worker children across Hampshire are continuing to be fed free meals while their parents work on the frontline of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Hampshire County Council’s catering service HC3S has now given over 51,000 meals to schools across the region, between March 30 to April 10.

They are working alongside colleagues in schools to ensure vulnerable and key worker children receive nutritious meals during the outbreak.

It comes after schools were ordered to close by the government on Friday March 20, in a bid to stop the spread of coronavirus.

The County Council’s Executive Member for Commercial Strategy, Human Resources and Performance, Councillor Stephen Reid, said: “The coronavirus outbreak has meant that HC3S has had to adapt quickly to ensure that the most vulnerable children, those of key workers and those receiving free school meals, continue to do so in these unprecedented times.

“HC3S staff have pulled out all of the stops to produce and deliver nutritious meals for these young people in Hampshire and neighbouring counties whilst schools are partially or fully closed, and during holiday times.

“They’ve also done sterling work to put together daily or weekly food boxes to keep children at home fed.”

Catering service HC3S is also sharing recipes and top tips online to help residents make the most of their food at home during lockdown.

Councillor Reid added: “The coronavirus pandemic has made many of us think differently about what ingredients we already have at home, and what we can buy, to make flavoursome and varied meals.

“HC3S has produced a great mix of online recipes and food tips to help everyone get the most of out of cupboard and fresh ingredients.”

This includes the launch of Rescue Recipes, which aim to help make ingredients in the cupboard stretch further when the usual items might not be readily available.

To access the recipes, visit www.hants.gov.uk/educationandlearning/hc3s/ourfood/recipes.