2,340 Feast of Fun meals provided to help tackle school holiday hunger
Network of Kindness members provided 2,340 meals for children and families, at ten Feast of Fun activities to help tackle school holiday hunger, this summer.
The food reached 814 children and adults, thanks to ten faith groups who hosted the activities, bringing young people and communities together to share healthy food and activities.
Staff were supported by 86 volunteers who helped out at the events across Liverpool and Wigan, which all reached children in receipt of free school meals.
Among them, Triple C (Liverpool) and Christ Church Norris Green served more than 900 Feast of Fun meals at a two-week summer play scheme, at Leamington Community Primary School.
A total 136 primary school aged children attended from the local community, each receiving a healthy breakfast of cereal and fruit, and snacks of fresh and dried fruit, jelly and yoghurt.
They also got the chance to take part in football skills coaching sessions with Liverpool Football Club’s Training Academy, and Everton in the Community. Other activities included craft making, a sensory corner, team games, face painting, group chats, and ball games.
Jan Quai, Children and Families Project worker at Triple C (Liverpool) who ran the playscheme said: “The funding enabled us to provide some things that a lot of families can’t afford to buy, like fresh strawberries and watermelon. The food benefits every child involved, even if they have nothing else when they go home, they have benefitted from the food at playscheme.
“Some of the parents say they don’t know what they would do in the holidays if we weren’t here. We help them with the cost of living. A lot of families can’t afford to go away in the school holidays so having this activity is amazing. It makes a massive difference to the whole community.
“It makes a big difference to families lives, it provides some respite for parents and carers too, to be able to have a couple of hours to themselves. Seven weeks is a long time and it’s an expensive time. The funding has enabled us to provide more snacks and better quality snacks, and some fruit which is super expensive. To be able to provide it and see the children eating it is amazing.”
Jan added that staff witnessed children’s confidence grow over the playscheme. She said:“For some children they can become quite isolated in the summer holidays so it’s nice we offer this provision.
"The summer holidays can become very expensive so having playscheme running for 2 weeks takes the pressure of families financially to take their children out. For some families who just need time to do cleaning, shopping, work then bringing their children to playscheme can also be very beneficial."
Among the parents whose children took part, one said: “My child doesn't usually eat breakfast first thing so was great they could have it at playscheme,” another said: “Breakfast helped us so much, “ and another: “Lifesaver, not sure what we will do when it’s not on next week.”
One child said: “I tried melon and Mini Cheddars at playscheme which was new for me.” Another said: “My favourite snack as a the pancakes, melon and yoghurts.”
The Feast of Fun small grants scheme is open to Network of Kindness members across the Diocese of Liverpool area. It is delivered thanks to Together Liverpool’s partnership with Meals & More.
What other Feast of Fun host groups said:
Also hosting events St John the Evangelist, Knotty Ash held a weekly session at the Sir Ken Dodd Happiness Hall for Church and Community, with 150 children taking part in sandwich building, wrap rolling and smoothie making using healthy ingredients.
At North Liverpool & South Sefton Methodist Circuit 93 meals were provided to children over six mornings of crafts, games and activities. They said: “There was a healthy lunch for all, including lots of fresh fruit for dessert. They noted “The children looked forward to attending. It was something to do that was free - so many costly activities, yet their children could do different crafts and activities for free.“
Christ Church and Holy Trinity Walton Breck fed more than 45 children plus eight young leaders each day at a church summer Holiday club. The church said: "The children came and joined us each day for fun, crafts, games and teaching and all left with a packed lunch in a brown paper bag to help their parents with the cost of food over the summer holidays. It was a great week. Our Feast of Fun activity meant that every child who came received a lunch that day and so would have had something to eat - this would not have been the case for some of our families otherwise."
St Andrews Church Clubmoor used the grant to help run six weekly Feast of Fun Goes to the Olympics events, serving over 250 meals. They said: “Feast of Fun had a huge impact on the families who attended. They were enthusiastic about the range of activities provided and the fact that this was a place where they could be fed and entertained for free. On some occasions, we had food gifts donated that we could send the families away with and these were greatly appreciated.”
Lighthouse Wigan West said: “We are in an area of significant deprivation. Offering food without trying to limit the amount they can eat is valuable, as is being welcoming to everyone.”
St James with St Thomas Church said: "The best thing was the way families felt at coming in, sitting down and eating something good and being able to engage with other families. it also gave grown ups access to the food pantry which is normally only open in the mornings. A big difference as it’s now well established and people look forward to it as a part of school holidays.”
St Paul's Goose Green said: “Seeing all the children enjoy their fruits and activities and the gratitude from parents for being able to get out the house and catch up with friends. It gave everyone something to look forward to during the school holidays along with a chance to meet with friends and fellowship.”
Join the Network of Kindness!
Our Feast of Fun small grants scheme supports faith groups and their community partners tackle school holiday hunger. Join the Network of Kindness to find out more about this scheme, offered thanks to our funders Meals&More.