Sainsbury’s is stepping up its campaign against holiday hunger with an £8 million funding boost aimed at expanding free meal provision for children during school holidays. This investment will create over 500,000 additional places at holiday clubs by the end of the supermarket’s current three-year funding commitment, extending support until at least March 2029.
The move addresses growing concerns about food insecurity, with the Food Foundation estimating that over two million children in the UK live in households struggling to afford food, especially when school meals are not available during holidays.
This new funding, provided through Sainsbury’s partnership with Comic Relief, complements the UK Government’s Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) scheme, which offers free meals and activities to eligible children in England during school holidays. However, Sainsbury’s is urging the government to expand the scheme to include all school holidays, such as half-term breaks, and to widen eligibility criteria to match those of free school meals.
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Since partnering with Comic Relief in 2022, Sainsbury’s has already helped deliver the equivalent of 60 million meals. The retailer aims to reach 120 million meals by 2030, targeting a £30 million investment to support children and families across the UK.
To raise funds, Sainsbury’s and Argos employees will participate in sponsored challenges throughout July and August, including an Olympic torch relay from Wick to Penzance, a football tournament, and a large-scale sports event at the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park.
Customers can contribute by donating in stores, online, or by converting Nectar points into donations. Sainsbury’s will match all customer donations made to Comic Relief until July 31.
Ruth Cranston, Sainsbury’s director of sustainability, emphasized the urgency of tackling holiday hunger: “Too many children face going hungry during school holidays — an issue we cannot ignore. Our investment supports the government’s efforts, helping more children access nutritious food when they need it most. It’s inspiring to see our teams rally behind this cause through fundraising and awareness initiatives across the nation.”