More than 65,000 free meals have been served to children and young people as part of Swansea Council’s support for families during the school summer holidays.
The council made £250,000 available to projects that helped feed children and young people during the six weeks they were off school.
Groups and charities said it had been lifeline to families and had prevented young people going hungry.
All 43 applications for funding were successful and 37 different groups and organisations served up an estimated 66,000 meals or provided food vouchers.
Among them was Sketty Lunch Club run by Sketty Mosque and Community Centre.
Dr Mahaboob Basha, BEM, of Sketty Youth Club and Sketty Mosque and Community Centre, which is behind the summer lunch club, said: “The summer club has been incredibly popular with more than 50 children a day getting a hot lunch and enjoying time out with their friends.
“You can see from the smiles on their faces just how much it means to the children involved and I’m very grateful to all those who are supporting this project.”
The holiday hunger initiative formed the largest package of support the council has ever put in place to help families that also included free and subsidised activities as well as free buses on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays and Mondays.
Swansea Council’s Cabinet Member for Well-being Alyson Pugh said: “We know people are struggling with the cost of living at this time and that the school holidays can put added pressure on household budgets but we wanted to do all we could to support families in the six week break.
“From what I have seen and from what our partners are telling us the financial support that has been available has made a real difference this summer.
“I’m proud that Swansea Council has been able to play its part in supporting families this summer and I’d like to thank all our partners for their hard work.”
