BUSINESS owners who received free school meals as children are stepping up to help young people this half-term

Inspired by footballer Marcus Rashford's campaign to stop youngsters from going hungry over the school holidays and their own experiences, James Duffy and Daniel Rose from More than Accountant have organised 250 free children’s lunches with Love Food on Tonge Moor Road to be distributed to children today.

And Carl Thorpe from Image Barber, in Horwich, is offering free hair cuts to children during the holidays.

James, who co-founded the Bolton-based business with Daniel, said: "I had free school meals at primary school, it was just me and my mum and been able to have a free school meal made a huge difference.

"We just wanted to give back to the community."

Daniel, who also had free school meals, said: "The pandemic is having a big impact on families, its affecting jobs, particularly in the hospitality industry, but also people are having to self-isolate, so cannot even get into the work."

The two said that they spoke about what they could do help and approached Love Food on Tonge Moor to put together a lunch for children.

Image has been helping to boost the confidence of children.

Rachel Thorpe from Image said: "This is a family run salon with my husband having opened the barbers upstairs.

"We talking about the campaign and free school meals, because he used to have them as a child.

"He was chatting about what he could do to help and said he could provide haircuts to children, because he is still building up his businesses he had appointments available."

Soon after posting the offer, a number of parents contacted the salon, with Rachel also offering any available appointments to schoolgirls at her established business.

Rachel said: "The appointments are just booked like any other and the parents are grateful and it really does help children's confidence. We have children so to help other children is important for us."

She added: "We had one child who did a twirl after their cut and saw him looking in to shop windows to look at his new haircut, he was so happy."

Businesses across Bolton have pulled together to help support the borough's families.