Volunteers help schoolkids get free lunches for the summer
A group of volunteers in Bolton are handing out free lunches to schoolchildren from low income families over the summer holiday
A group of volunteers in Bolton are helping school children who are entitled to free school meals during term time receive their lunch over the summer.
The Bolton Lunches Appeal plans to hand out 40,000 lunches over the summer holiday to children from low income families.
This comes after the Trussell Trust found that one in five parents in the UK will skip a meal this summer to make sure their kids have enough to eat, while foodbank use by families is expected to rise.
Bolton Lunches Appeal says one in five schoolchildren is eligible for free school meals in the area and many families struggle to fill the gap once term time has finished.
The charity targets Bolton’s most deprived areas, with volunteers handing out lunches in faith centres, churches, children’s centres and community centres.
Dave Bagley, Chief Executive of Urban Outreach said he hopes the scheme will relieve parents of some of the pressure of providing meals over the summer.
“A free school meal is a means tested benefit so if you’re in need of it you’re not doing anything wrong – you’re just in that situation.
“We are picking up where schools left off and filling that gap.
“There will still be pressure on families who struggle to prepare meals but this scheme means that a child who might be unable to get lunch can get one, sit down with their friends and it makes their day so much better.
“If a child is wandering around hungry, that’s so sad – we are adding to the summer holidays being a pleasant time rather than a sad one.”
Children do not have to prove that they are eligible for school meals and no child will be refused a lunch, according to the charity.
1000 lunches were handed out on the first day of the scheme on Monday with centres reportedly asking for more due to the demand.
The cost of providing the lunches is expected to be almost ÂŁ40,000, with each lunch costing around ÂŁ1, and the charity is reliant on donations and fundraising to cover the expense.
Children given one of the lunches will receive sandwiches as well as juice, a nutritious bar, biscuits and a selection of fruit.