Cash boost for Sunderland community group

A community group in Sunderland is celebrating a cash boost thanks to the city’s industrial past.

Sunderland Community Action Group CIC is expanding its services to the younger generation thanks to £8,943 secured from the Coalfields Regeneration Trust.

The organisation, based at the University of Sunderland, is launching a new project that will deliver a holiday hunger programme targeted at children and young people aged between five and 16 who would receive free school meals during term time.

The programme will ensure that children in receipt of free school meals will receive fresh fruit, healthy drinks and a main meal each day during school holidays.

Richard Duggan, director of Sunderland Community Action Group CIC, said: “We understand there are many parents who simply struggle to afford regular meals for their children during the school holiday periods, let alone the unprecedented times we now find ourselves in ." Without this service, their children could go hungry and this is simply unacceptable.

“Thanks to the Coalfields Regeneration Trust, we are now able to ensure no child will miss a meal and that they can concentrate on staying safe and healthy with their families.”

Development Manager for the Coalfields Regeneration Trust, Steve Abson, added: “The necessity of this new project made it easy for us to decide to support it.

“We know all too well that former coalfield communities are some of the most disadvantaged in the country, and we really see the true value of community-led organisations like the Sunderland Community Action Group.