Marcus Rashford has vowed to "keep taking steps forward" after his campaign to extend the children's food voucher scheme into the summer holidays led to a U-turn from the UK government.
Rashford wrote an open letter to MPs this week urging the government to reverse its decision not to award free school meals vouchers in England - for which nearly 1.3 million children are eligible - outside of term time.
The Manchester United and England forward followed that up with an impassioned article in The Times on Tuesday, detailing his experience of growing up using food banks and receiving free meals as a child.
That prompted a Government U-turn but Rashford insists his campaign is not over yet.
"I think this is only going to be successful throughtout the summer period so we've bought ourselves six weeks of time now to plan and figure out what's next and keep taking steps forward," he told BBC Breakfast.
"It's a nice feeling but I'm just happy that people's lives, and people's summers especially, have been changed for the better."
"I don't want this to be the end of it because there are definitely more steps that need to be taken. So we just need to analyse the response."
Asked if he was surprised by the Government rethink, he said: "I was obviously shocked. It is a big decision for someone to make and I'm just grateful that the Prime Minister did change his decision and he understood.
"I spoke to him and thanked him for that. It's a nice feeling but I'm just happy that people's lives, and people's summers especially, have been changed for the better."
The Prime Minister's official spokesman, confirming the policy change on Tuesday, said: "Owing to the coronavirus pandemic the Prime Minister fully understands that children and parents face an entirely unprecedented situation over the summer.
"To reflect this we will be providing a Covid Summer Food Fund. This will provide food vouchers covering the six-week holiday period. This is a specific measure to reflect the unique circumstances of the pandemic.
"The scheme will not continue beyond the summer and those eligible will be those who already qualify for free school meals."
🗣 to all MPs pic.twitter.com/Dc4weMvTHN
— Marcus Rashford (@MarcusRashford) June 16, 2020
Reacting to the news, Rashford wrote on Twitter: "I don't even know what to say. Just look at what we can do when we come together, THIS is England in 2020."
The striker followed that up by saying: "To all MPs. This was never about me or you, this was never about politics, this was a cry out for help from vulnerable parents all over the country and I simply provided a platform for their voices to be heard.
"I stand proud today knowing that we have listened, and we have done what is right. There is still a long way to go but I am thankful to you all that we have given these families just one less thing to worry about tonight.
"The wellbeing of our children should ALWAYS be a priority."
The cost will be £120million in additional funding, Downing Street said.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson, speaking at his daily press briefing, said: "I talked to Marcus Rashford today to congratulate him on his campaigning which to be honest I only became aware of very recently - today.
"I thank him for what he has done."
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