Sefton Council is pleased again to launch the annual Children’s Access to Food Programme, supplying nearly four thousand hot meals to those in need.



The scheme, which is now in its third year, helps to support families across Sefton who are most in need of help and hot meals, allowing them to end a reliance on school meals to help nourish their children.

Last year 3,981 meals were served in community centres across the borough during a six week period between July and August.

In addition to children’s centres, Sefton Council is working in partnership with Sefton Council for Voluntary Service (CVS) to co-ordinate additional access to food with local Voluntary, Community and Faith (VCF) sector organisations across the borough.

Sefton CVS have also published a crowdfunding initiative aimed at raising valuable funds to support the scheme, and are also asking for volunteers to offer their services throughout the period.

Cllr Trish Hardy, Sefton Council’s Cabinet Member for Communities and Housing said: “This is a very important service to provide and year on year, we help people who would otherwise struggle to put hot food on the table.

“Following last year’s scheme we had feedback from one mum who said that without this service, she would have had to miss paying bills to accommodate the extra cost of feeding her children during those six weeks.

“During the scheme we often see a clear reduction in families requesting food vouchers, because they were able to access free meals.

“The huge increase on last year shows that there is a need for schemes such as the Access To Food Programme and we are delighted that we are once again able to help and support those families that are most in need within our communities.”

Angela White, Chief Executive of Sefton CVS said: “We understand that the summer holidays can be an extremely challenging time for some families.

“We are pleased to be working alongside Sefton Council to offer a coordinated response to meet the needs of our local communities.”

Those eligible for the scheme will be contacted shortly to inform them of their nearest children’s centre.

To volunteer call 0151 920 0726 or email info@volunteeringsefton.org.uk.