The Mayor of London Sadiq Khan has announced £3.5 million in funding to provide free meals for children across London during school holidays and weekends. 

Around ten million meals will be given to low-income families across London for the next year and it will start during the Easter holidays. 

This emergency funding package is adding to the work Khan has already done with the Mayor's Fund for London and the Felix Project to help charities provide nutritious meals to families who are struggling with the cost-of-living crisis. 

Khan, said: "The spiralling cost of living is hitting low-income Londoners particularly hard and it's shocking so many people are struggling to put food on their table.  

"I have repeatedly called on the Government to do more to help those in need and support families during the school holidays, but they have not provided the assistance that is urgently needed.  

"That's why I'm stepping in today with a major new emergency funding package that will provide around 10m free holiday meals to hundreds of thousands of Londoners most in need.  

"I'm committed to doing all I can to support Londoners through this cost-of-living crisis and will continue to urge Ministers to step forward and do the same as we build a more prosperous London for all." 

An additional £425,000 is being provided to the Felix Project to expand their work and be able to deliver food on Saturdays across the whole year, this will give funding to around 100 new charities on their waiting list. 

Charlotte Hill OBE, CEO at The Felix Project said: "We know many parents are struggling to afford to put food on the table and rely on school food banks to top up their weekly shop, alongside free school meals for those who are eligible.  

"When schools are closed families face increased costs and more stress trying to make sure they have enough to feed their children.  

"That is why it is vital food provision continues during school holidays. We are delighted to receive this incredible support from the Mayor of London and be working with The Mayor's Fund for London so we can provide this lifeline for the next year.  

"I hope it will help low-income families to reduce the ever-increasing pressure on their budgets."