In response to this week's decision to not extend free school meals for children during the holidays and periods of lockdown, Richmond Rugby is delighted to announce we will be supplying local children with a free nutritional meal during half-term next week.

From Monday to Friday, our catering team at the Richmond Athletic Association (RAA) will cook daily nutritional meals which will then be delivered to local school children throughout our community.

The meals will be collected each day from the Athletic Ground and delivered by our incredible army of Richmond Rugby volunteers.

Head of community Dom Palacio said: "We firmly believe all children deserve access to free school meals throughout the holidays and we are extremely proud to be in a position to support those that need it most.

"This is not about politics or picking sides, it's about doing the right thing at a challenging time and supporting those in our community who find themselves in the most vulnerable of situations."

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Today's club announcement follows Richmond's hugely successful summer meals initiative which saw up to 50 local school children throughout our borough receive a free meal each day during the holiday months of July, August and early September.

The initiative was proudly supported by club partners Community Group and the Atlas Foundation, alongside our partner schools Grey Court School and Orleans Park School, with assistance from Ham Youth Club Richmond.

For more information please email Dom on [email protected]

[i]Many thanks to Tom Soulsby who contributed this piece for Richmond Nub News.