Meals and more

Brakes’ charity Meals & More has launched a pilot programme called ‘Big Day Out’ aimed at giving young children at least one special memory over the summer holidays.

The programme will see children given the opportunity to spend a day at the seaside or visit attractions including Go Ape and the Yorkshire Sculpture Park.

The charity will also partner with Unilever to provide free Wall’s ice creams to children as part of the scheme.

It comes as Meals & More said it had experienced its most challenging summer since it was founded in 2015, with over 200,000 meals being provided by the charity, as families face rising food and energy bills.

Brakes, which is part of Sysco GB, recently commited a further £500,000 to the charity in order to help it achieve its goals.

“While the pandemic was challenging, we’ve reached an entirely new level with families really suffering with the unexpected rise in household costs and food,” said Kate Woodhouse, chair of trustees for Meals & More.

“We had hoped that the increased government support would help address the issue of holiday hunger, but unfortunately, we are seeing more and more children and their families being dragged into poverty.”

Sysco GB HR director Margaret Gooch said: “It’s heartbreaking to see so much need in the country and we are delighted to be helping Meals & More as it provides support to address some of the issues that are impacting young people and families today.

“Sysco’s mission is ‘Connecting the World to share food and care for one another’ and Meals & More is a fundamental part of that.”