Free summer meal plan

A bid to hand out free meals to stricken kids during the school holidays has been launched.

There are 1,900 children entitled to free school dinners in South Ayrshire but out of term time many go hungry.

Cathy Campbell, of St Paul’s Justice and Peace Group in Ayr, appealed for the council to deliver grub all year round.

North and East Ayrshire councils already deliver the scheme.

Cathy urged councillors to find the money to roll it out in South Ayrshire and said there must be cash available somewhere.

She continued: “Some people think there is no deprivation in South Ayrshire but I can assure you there is a great deal of it.”

She pointed out how Ayr North and Girvan are home to the highest numbers of youngsters getting free dinners. Cathy presented a petition to the council’s public processes panel in County Buildings last week and urged councillors to hurry up and get the scheme rolling.

Provost Helen Moonie told Cathy: “I fully support the principle of what you are trying to do. I am appalled when I hear teachers say they can see children come back to school physically thinner after the summer break.”

Councillor Peter Convery said it should be rolled out across all breaks.

He said: “If you are hungry in the summer, then it is likely you will be hungry at Christmas all over the holidays.”

Public processes panel chair Brian McGinley said: “It is a gaping hole to make sure our young people are nourished and looked after.

“We were delighted to see this petition. It is very welcome to see somebody trying to do something positive for the community.

“Poverty is an increasing problem and we need to make sure we deliver services for those most deprived. It reflects on all.”

Council head of communities Claire Monaghan vowed to get staff to look into the possibility and return with a plan at a later date.