These 100 locations will be offering kids in Wirral free meals over the summer to crack down on a growing 'holiday poverty' crisis.
Feeding Birkenhead have announced plans to serve 10,000 meals over the six-week break to support children from disadvantaged backgrounds.
It's been estimated that up to three million in the UK are at risk of going hungry when school kitchens are closed.
Thousands of Merseyside parents rely on free school meals to feed their kids at lunch time, the loss of which adds between £30 and £40 per week to their outgoings for one child.
Are you impacted by holiday poverty? Email faye.brown@reachplc.com
Parents also have to deal with the soaring cost of school uniforms , which can cost up to a staggering £340 per child.
Organisations across Merseyside have rallied together to support hard-hit parents over the summer holidays, from food banks and school uniform shops to free activities for kids.
Feeding Birkenhead is a group of churches, community groups, and other organisations trying to eliminate hunger in Birkenhead - and have announced a huge programme of events to help struggling families this summer
They have published a huge five part programme of summer activities in which they hope to give out over 10,000 meals.
Almost 100 events are being put on in the first week alone - the details of which are below. For more information about the rest of the timetable visit the Feeding Birkenhead Website.
Here is where and when you can get support during the first week of the summer holidays - and how to get in touch
Thursday 25th July
Brunch Time 10am – 11am, St Alban’s Parish Hall, 30 Mill Lane, Liscard, CH44 5UD, Sue Chadwick, 07840274872
Friday 26th July
Brunch Time Midday – 1pm St Joseph’s Church, Wheatland Lane, Seacombe, CH44 7ED, Sue Chadwick, 07840274872
Monday 29th July
Summer Camp with Breakfast and Lunch, 8am – 5pm, Fender Primary School, New Hey Road, Woodchurch, CH49 8HB, Maureen Cain, 0151 677 0425
Breakfast, Hot Lunch, Activities and Takeaway Packed Lunches, 9am – 1pm Core Project, Bidston Rise Community Building, 29 Clover Drive, Birkenhead, CH41 7DZ Dee Sferrazza, debbie64sferrazza@yahoo.com
Breakfast Club 9.30am – 11am BEE Wirral, 130 St Anne Street, Birkenhead, CH41 3HX Rachael McCoosh, info@beewirral.co.uk, 0151 647 7587
Free Cereal, Juice and Fruit (9am – 10.30am), Library (9am – 1pm and 2pm – 5pm), Jolly Tots playtime for under-5s with parents/carers (10am – 11.30am, 50p, includes snack) and Monday Club with arts, games and crafts for under-11s (Midday – 1.30pm, 50p, includes lunch) St James Centre, 344 Laird Street, Birkenhead, CH41 7AL Eve Barrett, eve.barrett@corganisers.org.uk, 0151 670 9974
Breakfast and Hot Lunch with Snacks and Activities (including archery, science, arts and crafts, games, sports, and dance) 10am – 3pm Charlotte’s Brightside, Molyneux Drive, New Brighton, CH45 1JT Angie Churchill, angie.churchill@yahoo.co.uk, 07818 005 010
Brunch Time 10am – 11am, St Alban’s Parish Hall, 30 Mill Lane, Liscard, CH44 5UD Sue Chadwick, 07840274872
Space Week Sessions and Food 10am – 12.30pm, 2pm – 4pm Leasowe Adventure Playground, 8 Oxley Avenue, CH46 1RU Karl Rooney, karl.rooney@primagroup.org, 07548129080
Playscheme with lunch and activities 10am – 2pm at various locations across Wirrall (contact Kate Jones, wpc@wirralplaycouncil.org.uk, 0151 650 0030)
Free Breakfast and with Pool, Computers, Hama Beads and Football 10am – 12.30pm Gautby Road Play and Community Centre, 69 Gautby Road, Birkenhead, CH41 7DS Luke O’Dowd, luke@gautbyroad.co.uk, 0151 652 5645
Craft Club (10.30am – Midday) Lunch and pack-up meals to take away (12.30pm – 1.30pm), Martial Arts (5pm – 6pm) Heart of Egremont, Egremont Mission, Guildford Street, Wallasey, CH44 0BP Jess Pearce, heartofegremont@btconnect.com, 0151 639 4441
Boat Design Prep and Wirral History Day with Food 11am – 3.30pm Beaconsfield Community House, Beaconsfield Close, Rock Ferry, CH42 3YN Ema Wilkes, ema@neocommunity.org.uk, 07447 913 888
Free Lunch and Snacks and with Pool, Computers, Glitter Pictures and Football 2pm – 4.15pm Gautby Road Play and Community Centre, 69 Gautby Road, Birkenhead, CH41 7DS Luke O’Dowd, luke@gautbyroad.co.uk, 0151 652 5645
Tuesday 30th July
Summer Camp with Breakfast and Lunch 8am – 5pm Fender Primary School, New Hey Road, Woodchurch, CH49 8HB Maureen Cain, 0151 677 0425
Breakfast, Hot Lunch, Activities and Takeaway Packed Lunches 9am – 1pm Core Project, Bidston Rise Community Building, 29 Clover Drive, Birkenhead, CH41 7DZ Dee Sferrazza, debbie64sferrazza@yahoo.com
Free Cereal, Juice and Fruit (9am – 10.30am), Library Express (9am – 1pm), Library Adventures (10am – Midday), Kids in the Kitchen (2pm – 3pm, £1, booking required) St James Centre, 344 Laird Street, Birkenhead, CH41 7AL Eve Barrett, eve.barrett@corganisers.org.uk, 0151 670 9974
Breakfast Club 9.30am – 11am BEE Wirral, 130 St Anne Street, Birkenhead, CH41 3HX Rachael McCoosh, info@beewirral.co.uk, 0151 647 7587
Beechwood Playscheme – Breakfast, Packed Lunch, and start of the ‘Feathers’ design project (Morning), Reptile Club (2pm – 4pm) The Little Centre Beechwood, Fifth Avenue, Beechwood, CH43 9LB George Thomas, georgethomas@beechwoodtrust.org, 07949334137
Breakfast and Slime Making 10am – Midday Wirral Development Trust, Millennium Centre, Twickenham Drive, Leasowe, CH46 1PQ Karl Rooney, karl.rooney@primagroup.org, 07548129080
Breakfast and Hot Lunch with Snacks and Activities (including archery, science, arts and crafts, games, sports, and dance) 10am – 3pm Charlotte’s Brightside, Molyneux Drive, New Brighton, CH45 1JT Angie Churchill, angie.churchill@yahoo.co.uk, 07818 005 010
Breakfast and activities (Polish) 10am – 12.30pm Wirral Change, St Laurence’s School, St Laurence’s Drive, Birkenhead, CH41 3JD Sharon Munroe, sharon@wirralchange.org.uk, 0151 649 8177
Free Breakfast and with Pool, Computers, Colouring Group and Dance 10am – 12.30pm Gautby Road Play and Community Centre, 69 Gautby Road, Birkenhead, CH41 7DS Luke O’Dowd, luke@gautbyroad.co.uk, 0151 652 5645
Free Lunch and Snacks and with Pool, Computers, Gaming and Gautby Gladiators 2pm – 4.15pm Gautby Road Play and Community Centre, 69 Gautby Road, Birkenhead, CH41 7DS Luke O’Dowd, luke@gautbyroad.co.uk, 0151 652 5645
Craft Club (10.30am – Midday) Lunch and pack-up meals to take away (12.30pm – 1.30pm) Heart of Egremont, Egremont Mission, Guildford Street, Wallasey, CH44 0BP Jess Pearce, heartofegremont@btconnect.com, 0151 639 4441
Brunch Time Midday – 1pm St Joseph’s Church, Wheatland Lane, Seacombe, CH44 7ED Sue Chadwick, 07840274872
Two-Course Lunch followed by Outdoor Games 12.30pm – 4.30pm Rise Community Café, St. Mary’s Church, corner of Withens Lane and Manor Lane, Liscard, CH45 7HH Ruth Williams, 0151 677 1329
Community Soup followed by Community Conversations and Boat Design 11am – 4pm Beaconsfield Community House, Beaconsfield Close, Rock Ferry, CH42 3YN Ema Wilkes, ema@neocommunity.org.uk, 07447 913 888
Slime Making followed by Free Main Meals to ‘Take a Bite out of Hunger’ 2pm onwards Wirral Development Trust, Millennium Centre, Twickenham Drive, Leasowe, CH46 1PQ Karl Rooney, karl.rooney@primagroup.org, 07548129080
Wednesday 31st July
Summer Camp with Breakfast and Lunch 8am – 5pm Fender Primary School, New Hey Road, Woodchurch, CH49 8HB Maureen Cain, 0151 677 0425
Breakfast Club 9.30am – 11am BEE Wirral, 130 St Anne Street, Birkenhead, CH41 3HX Rachael McCoosh, info@beewirral.co.uk, 0151 647 7587
Free Cereal, Juice and Fruit (9am – 10.30am), Crafty Café (Midday – 1pm, £1.50, booking required), Park Play at Ilchester Park (2pm – 4pm) St James Centre, 344 Laird Street, Birkenhead, CH41 7AL Eve Barrett, eve.barrett@corganisers.org.uk, 0151 670 9974
Breakfast and Hot Lunch with Snacks and Activities (including archery, science, arts and crafts, games, sports, and dance) 10am – 3pm Charlotte’s Brightside, Molyneux Drive, New Brighton, CH45 1JT Angie Churchill, angie.churchill@yahoo.co.uk, 07818 005 010
‘Space Week’ Sessions and Food 10am – 12.30pm, 2pm – 4pm Leasowe Adventure Playground and Play Centre, 8 Oxley Avenue, CH46 1RU Karl Rooney, karl.rooney@primagroup.org, 07548129080
Gautby Road Day Trip – Luke O’Dowd, luke@gautbyroad.co.uk, 0151 652 5645 Breakfast and Jewellery Making 10am – Midday Wirral Development Trust, Millennium Centre, Twickenham Drive, Leasowe, CH46 1PQ Karl Rooney, karl.rooney@primagroup.org, 07548129080
Beechwood Playscheme – Breakfast, Packed Lunch, and obstacle courses The Little Centre Beechwood, Fifth Avenue, Beechwood, CH43 9LB George Thomas, georgethomas@beechwoodtrust.org, 07949334137
Women’s Group – including breakfast and activities for children 10am – 12.30pm Wirral Change, St Laurence’s School, St Laurence’s Drive, Birkenhead, CH41 3JD Sharon Munroe, sharon@wirralchange.org.uk, 0151 649 8177
Family Cooking with Creche 10am - Midday BEE Wirral, 130 St Anne Street, Birkenhead, CH41 3HX Rachael McCoosh, info@beewirral.co.uk, 0151 647 7587
Playscheme with Lunch and Activities 10am – 2pm Bebington Youth Club, Cornwell Close, New Ferry, CH62 1BG Kate Jones, wpc@wirralplaycouncil.org.uk, 0151 650 0030
Playscheme with Lunch and Activities 10am – 2pm (various locations) Contact Kate Jones, wpc@wirralplaycouncil.org.uk, 0151 650 0030
Hot Lunch, Activities and Takeaway Packed Lunches 11am – 1pm Core Project, Bidston Rise Community Building, 29 Clover Drive, Birkenhead, CH41 7DZ Dee Sferrazza, debbie64sferrazza@yahoo.com
Fun, Food and Friendship Midday – 2pm St James’ Church, 14 Albion Street, New Brighton, CH45 9LF Sue Chadwick, 07840274872
Lunch Club with Seniors (Midday), Martial Arts (5pm – 6pm) Heart of Egremont, Egremont Mission, Guildford Street, Wallasey, CH44 0BP Jess Pearce, heartofegremont@btconnect.com, 0151 639 4441
Engineering in the Community and Arts & Sports at Mersey Park 1.30pm – 4pm Beaconsfield Community House, Beaconsfield Close, Rock Ferry, CH42 3YN Ema Wilkes, ema@neocommunity.org.uk, 07447 913 888
Thursday 1st August
Summer Camp with Breakfast and Lunch 8am – 5pm Fender Primary School, New Hey Road, Woodchurch, CH49 8HB Maureen Cain, 0151 677 0425
Breakfast Club 9.30am – 11am BEE Wirral, 130 St Anne Street, Birkenhead, CH41 3HX Rachael McCoosh, info@beewirral.co.uk, 0151 647 7587
Free Cereal, Juice and Fruit (9am – 10.30am), Library Open (9am – 1pm and 2pm – 5pm), Trip to Conwy Castle (Booking required) St James Centre, 344 Laird Street, Birkenhead, CH41 7AL Eve Barrett, eve.barrett@corganisers.org.uk, 0151 670 9974
Breakfast and Hot Lunch with Snacks and Activities (including archery, science, arts and crafts, games, sports, and dance) 10am – 3pm Charlotte’s Brightside, Molyneux Drive, New Brighton, CH45 1JT Angie Churchill, angie.churchill@yahoo.co.uk, 07818 005 010
Brunch Time 10am – 11am St Alban’s Parish Hall, 30 Mill Lane, Liscard, CH44 5UD Sue Chadwick, 07840274872
Holiday Club – Memory Jar workshop with Lunch 10am – 1pm BEE Wirral, 130 St Anne Street, Birkenhead, CH41 3HX Rachael McCoosh, info@beewirral.co.uk, 0151 647 7587
Carers and Children 10am – 12.30pm Wirral Change, St Laurence’s School, St Laurence’s Drive, Birkenhead, CH41 3JD Sharon Munroe, sharon@wirralchange.org.uk, 0151 649 8177
‘Space Week’ Sessions and Food 10am – 12.30pm, 2pm – 4pm Leasowe Adventure Playground, 8 Oxley Avenue, CH46 1RU Karl Rooney, karl.rooney@primagroup.org, 07548129080
Playscheme with Lunch and Activities 10am – 2pm, various locations, contact Kate Jones, wpc@wirralplaycouncil.org.uk, 0151 650 0030
Free Breakfast and with Pool, Computers, Collage Pics and Games 10am – 12.30pm Gautby Road Play and Community Centre, 69 Gautby Road, Birkenhead, CH41 7DS Luke O’Dowd, luke@gautbyroad.co.uk, 0151 652 5645
Hot Lunch, Activities and Takeaway Packed Lunches 11am – 1pm Core Project, Bidston Rise Community Building, 29 Clover Drive, Birkenhead, CH41 7DZ Dee Sferrazza, debbie64sferrazza@yahoo.com
International Lunch Club Midday Heart of Egremont, Egremont Mission, Guildford Street, Wallasey, CH44 0BP Jess Pearce, heartofegremont@btconnect.com, 0151 639 4441
The Lunch Bunch Midday – 2pm Seacombe United Reformed Church, Brougham Road, Seacombe, CH44 6PW Sue Chadwick, 07840274872
Free Lunch and Snacks and with Pool, Computers, Tie Dye and Gautby Gladiators 2pm – 4.15pm Gautby Road Play and Community Centre, 69 Gautby Road, Birkenhead, CH41 7DS Luke O’Dowd, luke@gautbyroad.co.uk, 0151 652 5645
Free Main Meals to ‘Take a Bite out of Hunger’ 4pm Leasowe Community Centre, Twickenham Drive, Leasowe, CH46 1PQ Karl Rooney, karl.rooney@primagroup.org, 07548129080
Trampolining Trip to Freedome Ema Wilkes, ema@neocommunity.org.uk, 07447 913 888
Friday 2nd August
Summer Camp with Breakfast and Lunch 8am – 5pm Fender Primary School, New Hey Road, Woodchurch, CH49 8HB Maureen Cain, 0151 677 0425
Breakfast Club 9.30am – 11am BEE Wirral, 130 St Anne Street, Birkenhead, CH41 3HX
Rachael McCoosh, info@beewirral.co.uk, 0151 647 7587
Free Cereal, Juice and Fruit (9am – 10.30am), Creative Kids with Bex (1pm – 2.30pm, 50p) St James Centre, 344 Laird Street, Birkenhead, CH41 7AL Eve Barrett, eve.barrett@corganisers.org.uk, 0151 670 9974
Junior Club with Tennis and Media 10am – 12.30pm Gautby Road Play and Community Centre, 69 Gautby Road, Birkenhead, CH41 7DS Luke O’Dowd, luke@gautbyroad.co.uk, 0151 652 5645
Breakfast and Photo Frame Decorating 10am – Midday, 2pm – 4pm Wirral Development Trust, Millennium Centre, Twickenham Drive, Leasowe, CH46 1PQ Karl Rooney, karl.rooney@primagroup.org, 07548129080
‘Space Week’ Sessions and Food 10am – 12.30pm, 2pm – 4pm Leasowe Adventure Playground, 8 Oxley Avenue, CH46 1RU Karl Rooney, karl.rooney@primagroup.org, 07548129080
Beechwood Playscheme – Breakfast, Packed Lunch, and Cells Day The Little Centre Beechwood, Fifth Avenue, Beechwood, CH43 9LB George Thomas, georgethomas@beechwoodtrust.org, 07949334137
Brunch Time Midday – 1pm St Joseph’s Church, Wheatland Lane, Seacombe, CH44 7ED Sue Chadwick, 07840274872
The Lunch Bunch Midday – 2pm St Andrew’s United Church, Rowson Street, New Brighton, CH45 2LY Sue Chadwick, 07840274872
Craft Club (10.30am – Midday) Lunch and pack-up meals to take away (12.30pm – 1.30pm) Heart of Egremont, Egremont Mission, Guildford Street, Wallasey, CH44 0BP Jess Pearce, heartofegremont@btconnect.com, 0151 639 4441
Junior Club with Reptiles and Tennis 2pm – 4.15pm Gautby Road Play and Community Centre, 69 Gautby Road, Birkenhead, CH41 7DS Luke O’Dowd, luke@gautbyroad.co.uk, 0151 652 5645
Saturday 3rd August
Women’s Group (Arabic) – including breakfast and activities for children 10am – 4pm Wirral Change, St Laurence’s School, St Laurence’s Drive, Birkenhead, CH41 3JD Sharon Munroe, sharon@wirralchange.org.uk, 0151 649 8177
