Manchester United star Marcus Rashford given MBE following fight against child poverty

“I obviously think it’s a nice moment for me personally, but I feel like I’m at the beginning of the journey of what I set out to achieve…”

Immediately after Marcus Rashford was made an MBE for his charity work, the Manchester United attacker says he will continue his fight against child poverty.

The 2020 Queen’s Birthday Honours list was due to be published in June but was pushed back to enable nominations for people playing crucial roles during the first months of the crisis.

Still only 22 years old, Rashford launched a high-profile campaign which resulted in the Government changing policy over its free school meals vouchers during the lockdown, helping ensure children in need did not go hungry during the summer break.

The Manchester lad has maintained his drive for social change by since forming a child food poverty task force, which has linked up with some of the UK’s biggest supermarkets and food brands.

Reflecting on his ‘humbling’ MBE, Rashford vowed to continue fighting to protect the most vulnerable children.

“I’m incredibly honoured and humbled,” Rashford said in a statement via Man United. “As a young black man from Wythenshawe, never did I think I would be accepting an MBE, never mind an MBE at the age of 22.”

https://twitter.com/MarcusRashford/status/1314679460118044672?s=20

“This is a very special moment for myself and my family, but particularly my mum who is the real deserving recipient of the honour.

“The fight to protect our most vulnerable children is far from over.

“I would be doing my community, and the families I have met and spoken with, an injustice if I didn’t use this opportunity to respectfully urge the Prime Minister to support our children during the October half-term with an extension of the voucher scheme, as the furlough scheme comes to an end and we face increased unemployment.

“Another sticking plaster, but one that will give the parents of millions of children in the UK just one less thing to worry about.

“Let’s stand together in saying that no children in the UK should be going to bed hungry. As I have said many times before, no matter your feeling or opinion, not having access to food is never the child’s fault.”

Rashford’s family helped support the striker’s campaign and shared their pride at his MBE honour.

My superhero. For every sacrifice, cuddle, every word of encouragement. Every bus trip, skipped meal, every cheer on the sidelines in the freezing cold. Your strength still blows me away to this day. With you by my side there’s nothing I can’t do. I love you mum, enjoy your day♥️ pic.twitter.com/BA1qNZrOea

— Marcus Rashford (@MarcusRashford) October 8, 2020

“We are all so proud of what he has done and everything he is doing for the community and himself,” a family spokesman told the PA news agency.

“For us guys, we are going to continue to try to make a difference to as many families and lives as we can.”