CHILDREN in Leicester on benefits-related free school meals won’t miss out over the May half-term break, thanks to a holiday food programme that’s supported by Company Shop and Leicester-based Samworth Brothers.
The city council has teamed up with the surplus retailer and the food manufacturer to provide eligible families with fruit, vegetables, milk, bread and store cupboard essentials to ensure children have some breakfast, lunch and dinner options over half-term.
Families who are eligible for the scheme will have been directly contacted by their child’s school – and those wishing to take up the offer now have until Monday 6 May to register.
Once they’ve registered and selected a timed ‘shopping’ slot, families will be able to collect their food from one of five pop-up community pantries that will be set up at sites across the city – including local schools, a leisure centre and the King Power stadium.
Each site will be open at specified times on one day between Wednesday 22 May and Sunday 26 May.
Families will be able to select a good food hamper and additional items from the community pantry, choosing food that their child likes to eat up to a value of around £25.
Deputy city mayor Cllr Sarah Russell said: “The rising cost of living means we’re seeing more and more people being pushed to crisis point.
“We don’t want to see families having to rely on initiatives like these pop-up pantries, and it’s not acceptable that families find themselves in this position.
“I’d like to thank Samworth Brothers and Company Shop for helping us support thousands of young people and their families, and I’d also like to thank the volunteers who give up their time to help staff our five community pantries.
“I’m sure that our pop-up pantries will help make life a little easier for lots of local families again this half-term.
“Around 16,000 children and young people in Leicester are eligible for free school meals.
"Eligible families who have been contacted by their child’s school should now make sure they register for the half-term scheme by Monday 6 May.”
Leicester-based Samworth Brothers produce premium quality chilled and ambient foods – from sandwiches, meals and savoury pastries to salads, cooked meats and snacks – so are perfectly placed to provide the city council with the thousands of items required to support families over the half term holiday.
Karen Holdsworth, Samworth Brothers’ community engagement lead, said: “We’re very happy to be teaming up with the city council again to make these much-needed pantries possible.
“Samworth Brothers is, and has always been, very passionate about its role within our local communities and it’s wonderful that we can continue to support the council with this initiative.
“Organising the pantries is a big job, but by working with Company Shop, we’re able to make sure we have a fantastic range to offer the families attending. And of course, the pantries themselves wouldn’t be possible without a great team of volunteers, not only from within Samworth Brothers but also from the city council, Company Shop, Biffa and A La Carte recruitment.”
The city council has allocated £150,000 from the Department for Work & Pensions’ Household Support Fund to support the pop-up pantry initiative.
The May half-term food scheme is offered to families who have children who:
- receive benefits-related free school meals
- are at full-time school (aged 4 to 16)
- live in Leicester (or attend a city school, if they live outside of Leicester)
More information and a link to the registration form is available at families.leicester.gov.uk/holiday-food-offer
Anyone who thinks their child might be eligible for free school meals can find out more at leicester.gov.uk/freeschoolmeals