With the summer holidays approaching, many children in the UK are eagerly anticipating a break from school. However, for numerous parents, the extended vacation brings stress and worry as they grapple with the financial strain of providing meals for their families.
Recent findings from anti-poverty organization Trussell reveal that a staggering 9.3 million individuals in the UK are currently grappling with food insecurity, with young children under the age of five being particularly vulnerable. The charity anticipates a sustained high demand for assistance even after the school term concludes.
To address this pressing issue, frontline charities are gearing up to meet the escalating need for food support during the holidays, but additional assistance is crucial. Tesco has introduced initiatives to facilitate customer participation in offering immediate relief to those affected by holiday hunger.
For in-store shoppers, Tesco is offering pre-packed donation bags containing essential, shelf-stable food items like tinned tomatoes, sweetcorn, and pineapple. These donation bags will be accessible at major Tesco stores in England and Wales from July 21 to August 30, and in Scotland and Northern Ireland from June 30 to August 10.
Priced between £2 and £4, these donation bags cater to varying budgets. Customers can simply pick a bag from the display, pay for it at the checkout alongside their own purchases, and drop it off at the designated donation point near the store exit. All collected food will be distributed to local charities and food banks by FareShare and Trussell, benefiting communities across the country.
Furthermore, between August 25 and 31, Tesco will offer customers the option to round up their total bill to the nearest pound at self-service tills. The additional amount will be split between Trussell and FareShare, organizations dedicated to addressing hunger and food waste in the UK.
Customers willing to contribute further can select items from the “most needed” list and drop them off at in-store collection points. Additionally, donations can be made directly online through the provided link.
This initiative is part of Tesco’s ongoing support for Trussell and FareShare, following the £8 million Stronger Starts program launched in 2023 to fund healthy food and fitness activities for children. Notably, Tesco’s Fruit & Veg for Schools scheme, part of the initiative, provides daily fresh fruit or vegetable portions to 140,000 children in schools with high proportions of free school meals.
During the summer holidays, participating schools will receive £250 Tesco gift cards to ensure students have access to additional food resources. Tesco’s Kids Eat Free scheme will also resume in-store cafes, offering complimentary meals for children when an adult purchases an item, with prices starting at just 60p with a Tesco Clubcard.
Last year, Tesco customers’ donations supported food banks associated with Trussell, enabling the provision of over 1.4 million meals to families in need. Emma Revie, Trussell’s chief executive, expressed gratitude for Tesco’s ongoing support, highlighting the critical role it plays in ensuring families have access to essential food items.
Kris Gibbon-Walsh, CEO of FareShare, emphasized the substantial impact of the campaign on families, emphasizing that the provided food not only nourishes but also facilitates access to other services and activities for children during the summer.
Claire De Silva, head of communities at Tesco, emphasized the importance of the pre-packed donation bags in enabling customers to easily contribute essential items to support Trussell and FareShare’s initiatives.