CHILDREN who go hungry during the summer holiday because they miss out on free school meals are being targeted by a new project in Warrington.
The project – Fit, Fed and Read – will provide multi-sport activities, reading challenges, healthy living workshops and a nutritious lunch – all free of charge.
The project is being delivered by LiveWire from Westy Community Centre and Stockton Heath Library, thanks to funding from the Big Lottery Fund and Big Local.
Holiday hunger is increasingly becoming a big problem. New figures from anti-poverty charity The Trussell Trust, reveal that 78 per cent of families who rely on food banks have skipped meals or gone days without food in the last 12 months.
During the school holidays free school meals are not available, which puts more financial pressure on families who rely on food banks.
Many families also suffer with social isolation during the summer break, as they cannot afford to do activities, take their children on days out, or invite their friends over, meaning children end up spending most of their holiday indoors.
Paul Flannery, neighbourhood engagement officer at LiveWire, who is running the project, said: “School holidays are supposed to be a fun time of year, but for many low income families, it’s a time when children become isolated as there are no free activity programmes on offer, and they are at risk of going hungry because of the lack of free school meals.
“We ran a pilot version of the programme last year, which was really successful, but the funding from the Big Lottery and Big Local means we can provide the project for the whole of the summer break and support more young people to stay active and healthy, whilst they’re not in
school or college.”
Young people taking part in the project will have an opportunity to spend one day a week at VPX in Victoria Park – the multi-activity event, which engages with thousands of youngsters every summer.
The project is running five days a week from now until Friday August 25.
Picture: Children taking part in the pilot programme with their parents and Paul Flannery
1 Comment
In a country boasting one of the best economies in the world it’s an absolute disgrace that children should be going hungry.
In a town continually boasting of it’s ‘economic success’ it’s an absolute disgrace that the gap between rich and poor continually widens.
Better management and there would be no need for these types of projects.