More than £100,000 has been awarded so far to projects providing food for children and young people during this summer’s school holidays.
Earlier this month Swansea Council announced an additional £250,000 funding to help feed children and young people at risk of going hungry during the six week break.
Thirty one organisations have so far secured a share of the funding providing an estimated 55,000 meals.
In response to the Covid-19 pandemic, the Welsh Government introduced temporary payments during the school holidays to families receiving free school meals, but these have now ended.
To help support families, the council is funding projects that offer breakfast and lunch clubs as well as other food initiatives such as meals, food bags and vouchers.
Existing foodbanks can also access this support to bolster their supplies.
The council is also supporting families to make the most of the school summer holidays with free bus journeys across Swansea every Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday as well as a huge programme of free and subsidised events and activities.
Swansea Council’s Cabinet Member for Well-being, Alyson Pugh, volunteers at the Birchgrove Community Centre which is one of the projects to benefit from the food fund.
She said: “We want the school summer holidays to be fun and affordable for all families but are very aware during the cost-of-living crisis there are many who are struggling.
“Here at Birchgrove Community Centre we are one of 31 organisations to secure grants from Swansea Council so far and it means we are able to do packed lunches and also provide products such as pasta, rice and sauce for people to be able to take with them to cook at home.
“Other initiatives this summer to support all families include the largest programme of free or subsidised activities and events for children and young people the city has seen, as well as free bus travel every Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday during the school holidays.”
