Caerphilly County Borough Council have reached a year of delivering free school meals to pupils around the borough.

In March 2020, the Catering team were challenged to feed over 6,000 children and young people in the Caerphilly borough area who were eligible for free school meals. Sandwiches were provided for the first fortnight, until the team and local suppliers could organise frozen meal packs to be delivered to eligible households.

Deliveries continued when the children went back in September until catering was safely reintroduced and have continued during the 2021 lockdown when school were closed.

The delivery service operated for the Easter holidays and has also been provided to those pupils who are self-isolating and those who’s year group is not yet back.

Included in the Easter meal box is an Easter egg for each pupil.

Marcia Lewis, Principal Officer for Catering, said: “I cannot believe a whole year has passed since we introduced our free school meal delivery service. This has been a mammoth task achieved through the fantastic teamwork from across the authority and the local suppliers. This is a true example of team Caerphilly working at its best.

She continued: “Thank you to everyone who has made this possible, you have enabled eligible students around the borough to have 5 hot meals a week for the last year.”

Cllr Ross Whiting, Cabinet Member for Learning & Achievement, said: “This has been a very different year for us all, but what an outstanding achievement for our authority. This is an innovative scheme, and we could not do it without the teamwork and effort you all put in week in, week out. Thank you to all those involved, I hope all the pupils have enjoyed their Easter treat and have a good break from school.”