Where can you get help if you’re struggling with holiday hunger?

An estimated three million children across the country are at risk of going hungry this summer.

Parents on low-incomes struggle financially during the summer break, as they struggle to afford food for children who receive free school meals during term time and also contend with rising childcare and uniform costs.

The loss of free school meals during the school holidays can cost a family £30-40 per week, pushing many into debt and poverty.

However, there are a number of schemes across the country which can help with added costs.

The list below, compiled by the charity Turn2us provides further information on whether your school/council is among those who will be receiving additional support during the summer holidays.

Government funded schemes

The government has pledged £9 million to 11 different organisations across the country to provide free meals and activities for children over the summer break.

The 11 co-ordinators receiving a share of the £9.1 million are:

• StreetGames (Newcastle, North East region)
• Edsential (Chester and Cheshire West, North West region)
• Transforming Lives for Good (Bradford, Yorkshire & the Humber region)
• Happy Healthy Holidays consortium (Birmingham, West Midlands region)
• Barnardo’s (Leicestershire, East Midlands region)
• Suffolk County Council (East of England region)
• Family Action (Croydon, London region)
• The Romsey School (Hampshire, South East region)
• Plymouth County Council (South West region)
• Gateshead Council (North East region)
• Leeds Community Foundation (Yorkshire & the Humber region)

FareShare

The UKs longest running food redistribution charity, FareShare has launched its #ActiveAte programme, which is providing meals for children at risk of food poverty.

The charity is supplying food to over 400 holiday projects this summer, providing nutritious meals and snacks for approximately 50,000 children across the UK.

Trussell Trust Holiday Clubs

The Trussell trust, which coordinates a network of foodbanks in the country, is running holiday clubs that provide breakfast and lunch in addition to a number of children’s activities to children over the break.

Lunch Box

A charity based in Redcar, Lunch Box provides packed lunched to children three times a week during August.

Accord Group

A holiday kitchen that offers families on low-incomes meals throughout the year, in collaboration with Birmingham City University. To find if you can access Holiday Kitchen activities in your local area, please contact your local children’s centre.

Achieve More Scotland

The group is running holiday clubs to help children get physically active and nutritious food. A list of projects and initiatives can be found on its website.

Welsh Government Food and Fun Clubs

The Welsh government has set up a specific School Holiday Enrichment Programme (SHEP) that provides healthy meals to children in areas of deprivation during the summer holidays. A list of schools where support is provided can be found here.

Mayor’s Fund for London

A fund set up in London, Kitchen Social is a scheme run for children from low-income households during the holidays where they can socialise and get a healthy meal.

So far, 110 hubs have delivered Kitchen Social in over 23 boroughs in London, providing food and activities to 12,590 unique children and served 58,880 meals.