Parents affected by increased living costs during the school holidays are invited to take part in a new project in York.
Researchers and charity workers are looking for ten people to help show the reality of poverty in the city, by acting as community reporters.
Participants must be parents whose child or children ordinarily receive free school meals during term time, and they must have a smartphone.
York Food Poverty Alliance is concerned about the increased pressure on low-income families during the holidays, when parental costs rise.
They want people directly affected by the issue to help them gather evidence over the summer holidays, to show the impact on families and the difficult choices they face.
At the end of the project, participants will be invited to jointly produce a video report, which will be sent to local and national politicians, as part of national campaign aimed at safeguarding childhood nutrition all year round.
Maddy Power, of the York Food Poverty Alliance and a research fellow at the University of York, said: “There are discussions nationally about ending childhood hunger during the holidays, and we know this is an issue in York as elsewhere. First-hand evidence could be crucial in making the difference for hundreds of thousands of families across the UK.”
Anyone interested in taking part in the project, or who has any queries, should phone Gavin Aitchison on 07791 626238 or email [email protected]
Free food for children
Meanwhile, the alliance has also collated details of all groups and organisations providing free food for children, and sometimes parents, during the holidays. The full list is below…
Monday
Pay as you feel picnic-style lunch at The Red Tower, Foss Islands Road, 11.30am to 2pm.
Tuesday
Bell Farm Social Hall, Community club drop-in with free lunch available, 10am to 1pm.
City Kickabout in the Park, free football session with snacks, Chesney Fields in Acomb. 5.30pm to 6.15pm for ages 7 to 10 or 6.15pm to 7pm for ages 11 to 15.
Tuesdays and Thursdays
Family play, craft, stories and pay as you feel picnic with Chill in the Community CIC, in Beech Grove Woods, 10.30am to 12.30pm
Wednesday
The Big Picnic, pay as you feel healthy picnic for Tang Hall residents, Tang Hall Community Centre, noon to 2pm.
Luke’s Larder, pay a you feel food at St Luke’s Church Hall in Burton Stone Lane, 10am to noon on August 1, 8, 15 and 29.
Clifton Children’s Centre in Kingsway North, pay as you feel food, 10am to 11am on August 22 only.
Thursday
York City FC Food Bank, free food, football sessions available to Clifton families, Vale of York Academy. Food Bank noon to 2pm. Phone 01904 559508 for more information.
Bell Farm Social Hall, Community Club drop-in with free lunch available, noon to 3pm.
Chapelfields Community Hub, free breakfast and refreshments, plus advice and crafts. Sanderson Court Community House. 9am to noon.
City Kickabout in the Park, free drop-in physical activity sessions and snacks, Energise Leisure Centre in Cornlands Road. 5.30pm to 6.30pm for ages 7 to 10 or 6.30pm to 7.30pm for ages 11 to 15.
Friday
York City FC Food Bank, free food, football sessions available to Clifton families, Vale of York Academy. Food Bank noon to 2pm. Phone 01904 559508 for more information.
Foxwood Community Hub, pay as you feel lunch,plus advice and crafts. Foxwood Community Centre, 11.45am to 2pm.