WATCH: Cash For Kids funded project helps kids have fun and food this summer
The summer holidays are supposed a carefree time, but for thousands of children in Tayside it can mean going hungry without free school meals.
The summer holidays are supposed a carefree time, but for thousands of children in Tayside it can mean going hungry without free school meals.
The Fun and Food programme in Dundee, part-funded by generous donations to Radio Tay's Cash for Kids, is changing that by delivering thousands of meals to free activity projects.
Dundee City East MSP Shona Robison today visited Craigie Community Sports Centre today to see the project in action.
Lizzie Parker has this report:
The local MSP visited 2 projects, Dundee United Sports Club and Discovery Dance group, which both directly benefit from the programme.
The meals are provided free, to summer holiday activity projects being delivered by a wide variety of voluntary organisations and statutory bodies – mostly located in community regeneration areas.
The Fun and Food Programme was devised by David Dorward and is aimed at primary school age children. The project raised £76,000 to deliver the summer initiative - £23,000 from Radio Tay Cash for Kids, £15,000 from the Northwood Trust, and finally matching finance of £38,000 from Dundee City Council.
Over the 6 weeks, from 4 July to 12 August 2016, Tayside Contracts will prepare 20,000 lunches and the Fun and Food Programme will deliver these to 87 different projects across Dundee.
Dundee Fun and Food Programme is applying for charitable status and intends to deliver meals during all school holidays, with the exception of the Christmas and New Year.
Ms Robison commented: “I am delighted to support Dundee Fun and Food Programme in my constituency, which is also being delivered throughout the city.
“It is a fantastic project that is committed to tackling child poverty through providing free meals to primary children in the city’s most deprived areas during the summer break.
“I would like to congratulate David, Tayside Contracts and all involved in the various projects for delivering an excellent programme and providing a vital service to children across Dundee.”