Three million children risk being hungry in the school holidays. One in eight pupils are not getting enough to eat in the school holidays. Up to 78% of teachers notice children returning to school hungry on the first day after the holidays.

Hunger amongst children during school holidays leaves them returning to school malnourished, sluggish, and dreary; starting the new term several weeks, if not months, intellectually behind their more fortunate peers who have enjoyed a more wholesome diet and lots of activity during school holidays.

Disadvantaged pupils tend to perform poorly in public examinations relative to other pupils. As poor academic performance is associated with lower wages and higher unemployment in adulthood, this ‘attainment gap’ is a key mechanism for transmitting poverty from one generation to the next.

Jeena is a social inclusion charity committed to supporting marginalised and disadvantaged communities and linking them to the wider society. Jeena works tirelessly to identify vulnerable members of our society, alleviate their isolation and support them in finding appropriate help.

Through this project, we aim to identify vulnerable children and their families that are victims of food poverty the Slough area and provide them with access to free food, in the form of healthy breakfasts and lunches over the summer holidays. We also intend to educate communities on how to cook affordable and nutritious meals, by training them on nutrition and how to shop and cook on a budget. We will also include sessions of learning and fun. Jeena is seeking to raise £10,000 in this regard.