Feeding Birkenhead
Birkenhead MP Frank Fields believes child hunger during the school holidays could be abolished if services like the 'Feeding Birkenhead' scheme were rolled out across the country.
The 'Feeding Birkenhead' scheme was deisgned to support families who rely on the free school meals during term term.
Rather than turning to a food bank the scheme has been set up to fill the gap, so that children and their parents don't have to go hungry.
Last summer, for example, the number of people fed and supported by Birkenhead’s food banks fell from 493 in July to 479 in August. In September, once the Feeding Birkenhead projects had come to an end, and the school term began, the numbers increased to 698.
120 children were fed by Feeding Birkenhead’s first four pilot projects during May’s Whitsun Holiday. Eight projects then ran free food and fun projects during the Summer Holiday. They fed 2,058 children at a total cost of approximately £9 per child. Feeding Birkenhead projects operated again in the October half term holiday, providing free food and fun for 360 children at a cost for the week of £6.75 per child. The food is sourced mainly from FareShare, His Food and Kellogg’s – who donate surplus breakfast products – with other foodstuffs bought in or donated.
Publishing the programme for next week’s half term holiday, Frank said: ‘A blueprint is being developed here in Birkenhead which, if it were rolled out across the country, could abolish hunger as we have known it during the school holidays. Just as important, it is affording all children the chance to have fun during the half term, which is what it should be about, rather than have it be a struggle for survival.’
The programme for this half term is as follows:
Monday 15th February
Free cereal and juice
9am - 11.30am (including Jolly Tots activities for under-5s (50p donation), between 10am and 11am)
St James’ Centre, 344 Laird Street, Birkenhead, CH41 7AL
Anna Barnish, 0151 670 9974, anna@nbdt.org.uk
Food and Fun with a bouncy castle and St Valentine’s Crafts
10.30am - 12.30pm
Tranmere Community Project, 1 Whitfield Street, CH42 0LR
Revd. Lynne Cullens, 0151 649 8017, lynne.cullens@TCP.org.uk
All activities and lunch are free of charge. A maximum if thirty children can be accommodated. Children aged 8 and under to be accompanied by a carer over the age of 18.
Packed lunch and playscheme
10am - 2pm
BeeWirral, Livingstone Street Community Centre, 130 St Anne Street, Birkenhead, CH41 3HX 0151 647 7587, beewirral@yahoo.com
Monday Club Lunch with soups, sandwiches, play and crafts
Midday - 1.30pm (50p donation)
St James’ Centre, 344 Laird Street, Birkenhead, CH41 7AL
Anna Barnish, 0151 670 9974, anna@nbdt.org.uk
Tuesday 16th February
Free cereal and juice
9am - 11.30am (including free Library crafts and books between 10am and 11am)
St James’ Centre, 344 Laird Street, Birkenhead, CH41 7AL
Anna Barnish, 0151 670 9974, anna@nbdt.org.uk
Food and Fun
11am - 2pm
Beaconsfield Court Day Centre, Beaconsfield Close, Rock Ferry, CH42 3YN
Ema Wilkes, Neo Café, 07447 913 888, neo.cafe@aol.com
Food and Fun with football and dance
11am - 2pm
Tranmere Rovers Recreation Centre, Prenton Park, Prenton Road West, CH42 9PY
Ema Wilkes, Neo Café, 07447 913 888, neo.cafe@aol.com
Family Cooking Session
1pm
Wirral Christian Centre, corner of Woodchurch Road and Balls Road, Birkenhead, CH43 5RF Alex Fisher, 0151 200 0815, alex@oxtongateway.org
Places are limited and subject to availability. Please call in advance to book a place
Wednesday 17th February
Free cereal and juice
9am - 11.30am
St James’ Centre, 344 Laird Street, Birkenhead, CH41 7AL
Anna Barnish, 0151 670 9974, anna@nbdt.org.uk
Family Cooking Club (spaces are limited, so please call to book in advance)
10am - Midday
St James’ Centre, 344 Laird Street, Birkenhead, CH41 7AL
Anna Barnish, 0151 670 9974, anna@nbdt.org.uk
Food and Fun with stilts and clowning fun
10.30am - 12.30pm
Tranmere Community Project, 1 Whitfield Street, CH42 0LR
Revd. Lynne Cullens, 0151 649 8017, lynne.cullens@TCP.org.uk
All activities and lunch are free of charge. A maximum if thirty children can be accommodated. Children aged 8 and under to be accompanied by a carer over the age of 18.
Packed lunch and playscheme
11am - 3pm
BeeWirral, Livingstone Street Community Centre, 130 St Anne Street, Birkenhead, CH41 3HX 0151 647 7587, beewirral@yahoo.com
Food and Fun with football and dance
11am - 2pm
Tranmere Rovers Recreation Centre, Prenton Park, Prenton Road West, CH42 9PY
Ema Wilkes, Neo Café, 07447 913 888, neo.cafe@aol.com
Family Cooking Session
1pm
Wirral Christian Centre, corner of Woodchurch Road and Balls Road, Birkenhead, CH43 5RF Alex Fisher, 0151 200 0815, alex@oxtongateway.org
Places are limited and subject to availability. Please call in advance to book a place
Thursday 18th February
Free cereal and juice
9am - 11.30am (including Family Craft and St James Opp Shop between 10.30am and 12.30pm)
St James’ Centre, 344 Laird Street, Birkenhead, CH41 7AL
Anna Barnish, 0151 670 9974, anna@nbdt.org.uk
Food and Fun
11am - 2pm
Beaconsfield Court Day Centre, Beaconsfield Close, Rock Ferry, CH42 3YN
Ema Wilkes, Neo Café, 07447 913 888, neo.cafe@aol.com
Food and Fun with football and dance
11am - 2pm
Tranmere Rovers Recreation Centre, Prenton Park, Prenton Road West, CH42 9PY
Ema Wilkes, Neo Café, 07447 913 888, neo.cafe@aol.com
Family Cooking Session
1pm
Wirral Christian Centre, corner of Woodchurch Road and Balls Road, Birkenhead, CH43 5RF Alex Fisher, 0151 200 0815, alex@oxtongateway.org
Places are limited and subject to availability. Please call in advance to book a place
Create A Town with glue, glitter and paint (food will be provided)
4pm - 5pm
St James’ Centre, 344 Laird Street, Birkenhead, CH41 7AL
Anna Barnish, 0151 670 9974, anna@nbdt.org.uk
Friday 19th February
Free cereal and juice
9am - 11.30am (including Family Craft and St James Opp Shop between 10.30am and 12.30pm)
St James’ Centre, 344 Laird Street, Birkenhead, CH41 7AL
Anna Barnish, 0151 670 9974, anna@nbdt.org.uk
Food and Fun with football skills, games and crafts
10.30am - 12.30pm
Tranmere Community Project, 1 Whitfield Street, CH42 0LR
Revd. Lynne Cullens, 0151 649 8017, lynne.cullens@TCP.org.uk
All activities and lunch are free of charge. A maximum if thirty children can be accommodated. Children aged 8 and under to be accompanied by a carer over the age of 18.
Packed lunch and playscheme
Midday - 3pm
BeeWirral, Livingstone Street Community Centre, 130 St Anne Street, Birkenhead, CH41 3HX 0151 647 7587, beewirral@yahoo.com