WORLD Cup winning England cricketer Adil Rashid joined in efforts this afternoon to feed disadvantaged children in Bradford who may go hungry this half-term.

Heaton born Rashid, who plays cricket for Yorkshire and England, teamed up with the Volunteering Interfaith Programme (VIP) organisation to distribute food today from Masjid Quba in Manningham yesterday afternoon.

The donation of food has been inspired by England footballer Marcus Rashford MBE's #EndChildFoodPoverty campaign, to ensure children on free school meals and those doing it tough in the current Coronavirus pandemic have access to nutritious meals.

Faith leaders, businesspeople and volunteers from the district’s diverse communities have come together to deliver food packs for children at risk of going hungry during the half term holiday.

The outpouring of generosity and community spirit has followed a vote in Parliament last week, when the Conservative Government voted against a motion to provide £15 a week food vouchers to families on free school meals.

Rashid, who lifted the Cricket World Cup last summer, said: “There are more than 40,000 children in poverty in our city and I am pleased to join incredible community-spirited team, VIP TEAM, in our city so that we can respond and do what we can to ensure no child is hungry this half-Term and Christmas holidays”.

Javed Bashir, founder of VIP said: “Without the right help and support parents who are economically vulnerable may find themselves with debt and children in hunger.

“Children from vulnerable families are already at greater risk of food insecurity and could face more health problems due to lack of nutritious food as a result of Covid-19."

You can see all the businesses and charities providing free meals to impoverished families in the district this week by clicking here.