Food parcels will carry on being delivered to pupils

FOOD parcels for pupils eligible for free school meals will continue to be delivered every week throughout the summer holidays.

The weekly food parcel contains enough food items to provide both breakfast and lunch for a child for five days. For pupils with special dietary requirements, a five-day frozen meal option is delivered.

Around 5,000 food parcels are delivered each week to homes across the county borough. They include a variety of fresh fruit and vegetables, pasta, sauces and tinned food.

Bridgend council’s cabinet member for education Charles Smith said: “The food parcels go some way to helping families whose children would otherwise be benefiting from a free school meal in their local schools.

“To date, the provision has included the school Easter holidays and the school spring half-term break, and now will also include the summer holiday break from July 20 to August 31.

“Having evaluated a range of options, the council continues to believe that the delivery of food parcels containing up to five days’ worth of nutritious breakfast and lunch items has been more effective and ultimately better for local children than alternative arrangements.

“It has prevented families from undertaking unnecessary travel during the height of the pandemic, has avoided potential problems with access and has provided an extra level of reassurance that children have been receiving the food.”