This summer we are set to distribute over 30 tonnes of food benefitting more than 50 holiday projects for children in Bristol over the six week school holidays, with a further 76 tonnes going to other parts of the South West region.

Working in partnership with Feeding Bristol, who have helped to identify the projects where additional food support will be vital in preventing children going hungry this summer, the ‘Food for Holiday Projects’ activity will operate from the re-opened temporary warehouse provided by Ashton Gate Stadium, which was used by the food charity to supply emergency food to frontline charities and settings during 2020.

With food for approximately 71,500 meals expected to be distributed, the holiday projects serving Bristol’s children will receive a mixture of bulk deliveries of food to create meals as they choose, as well as smaller food parcels useful for distributing direct to families and even packed lunches, which will be made by local school caterer Zest Catering.

Local food businesses are enabling us to get food out on scale, with both Yeo Valley and Wyke Farms donating significant quantities of fresh food to the ‘Food for Holiday Projects’ activity.

“Before the pandemic, we knew that 1 in 4 children were at risk of hunger in Bristol and with the impacts of the past 15 months we anticipate that number has grown. School holidays are a key, time-critical moment to provide support to families to avoid them falling through the gaps and into more complex issues relating to poverty.”

Julian Mines, CEO at FareShare South West

Julian continues: “Year on year we’ve supported holiday projects in Bristol as these are a brilliant way to reach children who might otherwise go hungry.

We’re very grateful to Ashton Gate Stadium for again allowing us to expand our operations into their warehouse space and for local food businesses who are donating food for this work. The generosity shown will help us make a significant impact during the holidays whilst also continuing with our normal deliveries to all other frontline partners from our main warehouse.”

“Since the pandemic, the number of children in Bristol eligible for Free School Meals has risen to over 16,000. Bristol City Council’s Your Holiday Hub programme will be supporting these children over the summer holidays by working with an established network of community organisations to provide a mixture of activities and food.”

Ped Asgarin, Director at Feeding Bristol.

Ped continues: “Working closely with the council, we target the wards in the city that have the highest percentage of children eligible for free school meals, and support organisations working in those areas. Feeding Bristol work closely with FareShare South West to provide packed lunches that will cater for a range of dietary needs and are healthy, exciting and tasty.

The Children’s Kitchen, a Feeding Bristol project, will also be providing family cooking sessions over the summer and a range of literature and videos to help support families and organisations with recipes, and guidance on cooking with children and for children in an inclusive and engaging way.”

One of the organisations receiving food to support their holiday projects is Bristol Robins Foundation. For the last 10 years, the Robins Foundation has been delivering free holiday camps in areas of deprivation in Bristol for young people on free school meals, using FareShare South West food. Whilst at the camps the children have the opportunity to play sports and are guaranteed a free meal every day they attend the camp. For the first time, this year, the camps have received additional funding from Bristol Council enabling them to have an even greater impact.

“We are delighted to have this funding which enables continue the work that we have been doing for the last 10 years on a much bigger scale. This will impact more young people in areas of deprivation who are on free school meals to give them sport and positive provision, as well as providing them with daily food and having the opportunity to engage with them for 4 hours a day.”

James Edwards Chief Development Officer at Bristol Robins Foundation

What we need is Bristol businesses to support the ‘Food for Holiday Projects’ activity by giving up a morning or afternoon throughout the summer to volunteer at the temporary warehouse, picking and packing food for deliveries. Any interested organisations should contact: volunteer@faresharesouthwest.org.uk

Individuals wishing to donate to support this work can visit: www.faresharesouthwest.org.uk/support-us/donate-to-fareshare-south-west/