This summer we’re proud to have piloted a new school-based programme aiming to tackle the issue of childhood hunger during the school holidays.
The Holiday Food & Fun Club took place in a primary school in Ealing over the five week summer break, where 50 students and their families could come and enjoy a nutritious lunch and fun activities for three days each week.
Funded primarily by our friends at Belazu Ingredient Co, the programme gave eager Belazu employees the opportunity to roll up their sleeves and join in on the fun. Together we planted salad seed pots and baked bread, learned about bees, played football, built sand castles, had an epic water fight, and more!
Each day, the students and staff had a choice of a hot meal generously provided free of cost by the school’s caterer, Harrison. These meals included weekly theme days that celebrated the wide range of cultures found at the school including: Indian, Italian, Spanish, and Syrian. We also enjoyed fresh fruit throughout the afternoon to keep everyone going during the summer heat. Additional funding and support was provided by Kitchen Social supported by the Mayor’s Fund for London.
The club was a success and all of the students, staff, parents, and volunteers that attended felt that they got a lot out of the experience. Our aim was to find a model for a holiday programme that met the needs of families struggling with holiday hunger and engagement with their children over school breaks. Selecting a primary school as a host and partner for the project was key to its success. The club aims to provide food as well as an opportunity to keep kids active and stimulated so that when they return to school they haven’t fallen behind their peers both nutritionally as well as academically.
School Food Matters
