Rest, relaxation and recreation. Summer months can provide all three, along with the feeling of being able to brush aside everyday stressors.
But for those less fortunate including impoverished children across the UK, the summer ‘gap’ can be anything but carefree. In some cases, it can exacerbate their troubles. No school can mean no free meals. Unaffordable camps can mean further isolation and a lack of energy for physical activity.
Supermarket chain Tesco surveyed more than 1,500 families in early June. Around 9% said their children were forced to meals because of lack of income and access to food they get during school days. More than 40% said their kids also couldn’t go to camps, where they might also get food, because of cost.
So Tesco decided it had to do more. Last year, it put £650,000 into summer food efforts for kids. This year, it has put £1 million behind an initiative with FareShare and the Trussell Trust to both get food into the hands of struggling families and provide support through their Stronger Starts program.
“Too often families with too little support during the holidays see their children miss out on the good stuff every child deserves – not just for their physical health but for their mental wellbeing as well,” Claire De Silva, Head of Communities at Tesco, said. “If we all pull together over the coming months, whether that’s popping a few tins into a food collection point, picking up a food donation bag in our stores or rounding up our grocery bill, we can make a difference to the lives of thousands of children, who, without support, could have a tough summer holiday.”
Doing its part, Tesco said it is expanding its pre-packed customer donation bags at all of its bigger supermarkets. Priced between £2 and £3, they contain both “healthy and nutritious long-life items” that are distributed to FareShare and the Trussell Trust, who then pass it along to local charities and food banks. Customers online can make straight donations during checkouts.
In addition to the donation bags, Tesco is allowing kids to eat free in its more than 300 in-store cafes during the summer. Adults can spend as little as 60p to get a meal for their child.
The initiatives and partnerships have had immense impact. Over the course of their partnership, Tesco says it has delivered the equivalent of more than 192 million meals through FareShare.
“With around three-quarters of the organisations we support providing food for children and families, the 8,500 charities FareShare supplies are under immense pressure,” George Wright, Chief Executive at FareShare, said. “This generous donation from Tesco will ensure we continue providing vital support to charities that rely on FareShare food to strengthen their local communities this summer. Our surplus sourcing model means every £1 of the donation enables over £4 of nutritious food to support those in need. We are deeply grateful for Tesco’s continued commitment to our partnership.”
The Trussell Trust’s food banks work year-round to help around 430,000 people with food. Of those, about one third are children. The stakes continue to be high for them.
“Our network of food banks distributed more than 1.1 million parcels for children last year, almost double the amount provided just five years ago and this illustrates the unacceptable levels of hardship that many people are currently facing,” Emma Revie, CEO at the Trussell Trust said. “No one should need to turn to a charity for something as essential as food, and as we work towards achieving the long-term change needed, Tesco’s support this summer will make a real difference to families across the UK.”
