Almost one-third of children in the UK live in poverty that is around nine in the average classroom. The situation is predicted to get worse, with the number set to rise to almost five million by the end of this year. In Lincoln alone, there are an estimated 2000 children who will qualify for free school meals, but that figure does not cover those working families on a lower income who are struggling to make ends meet.

I, along with my teammates at Lincoln City Football Club, want to do something to help our community. Inspired by the work of Premier League Footballer Marcus Rashford, we have teamed up with Lincoln City Foundation and Lincolnshire Charity FiSH (Food in School Holidays) to kick off The Move for Meals Challenge, because no child should go hungry in the county of Lincolnshire.

FiSH have identified 446 children in our local area, who will not qualify for the governments summer meals funding but are still very much in need. To support those children with their £10 meal voucher every six weeks they need £26,760. These vouchers are a lifeline to so many local families in our area.

We will be challenging ourselves and you to get moving to help raise £20k for the FiSH project. Walk, run, swim, cycle, dance, or set your own challenge to get moving for those meals. Can you do 10K, donate £10 and nominate your friends to do the same? Every £10 donated is a £10 meal voucher for a Lincoln Child in need. If you can do more, even better!

Lincoln City Foundation are helping us to collect the donations via their Just Giving Platform, so that we can help FiSH fund not only the Summer Holidays but also help children in October Half-Term and the Christmas Holidays. All of my team-mates will also be sharing this Just Giving link on their social media accounts.

Join the Move for Meals Challenge and together, we can help to feed the children of Lincoln. #Impsasone

Thank you in advance for your support,

Tom Hopper (on behalf of all the players at Lincoln City FC)