Leicestershire Police and Crime Commissioner Lord Willy Bach has been hand-delivering boxes of fruit, donated by him, to ensure children in Leicester have a proper and healthy meal during the holidays, just as they would if they were at school.
The PCC presented the fruit-filled boxes, all purchased from local retailers, to The Big Local on St Matthew’s Estate, followed by Christ the King Church in Beaumont Leys on Tuesday and St Peter’s Church in Highfields on Wednesday before a flying visit to the SuperSonicBoom Festival in South Wigston.
Local charity Action Homeless, with the support of Leicester City Council, are coordinating activity in Leicester and helping grassroots community groups to provide ‘food and fun’ in their localities. The project, supported by Feeding Britain with funding from the Department for Education, aims to ensure children who rely on school meals do not go hungry during the six-week summer break.
The PCC has begun a partnership with Action Homeless with this donation as a short term, urgent measure. However, in the longer term he aims to help raise awareness of the need for all children in LLR to have a regular and healthy meal.
Research shows fruit and vegetable consumption is significantly lower among lower income families as a result of rising food prices and the PCC is keen to work with the charity to help children receive the healthy food they need during the holidays.
“Action Homeless plays a vital role in our communities, offering help to children and families coping with the additional pressures the school holidays bring,” said Willy Bach.
“It’s important we all help where we can.”
Mark Grant, CEO of Action Homeless, added: “We know that many children rely on free school meals in Leicestershire and when this option is taken off the table, families can really struggle. These community schemes are playing a vital role over the long summer holiday to fill this gap and we are grateful for all the support being offered to them.”
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Posted on Thursday 16th August 2018