Volunteers at the Foodbank are determined that children won’t go hungry over the summer holidays.

The organisation has welcomed the government’s announcement that it is planning to extend its free school meal voucher scheme to help eligible families during the summer holidays.

The Foodbank will now work with Manx Sport and Recreation and Youth Carers Services to create a range of options to keep the youngsters occupied during the holidays.

It says it wants to ensure that no needy children or families go hungry and says it will work with other voluntary and statutory organisations in addressing the wider issues.

The chairman of the Foodbank’s trustees, David Gawne, said: ’During school holidays families incur additional childcare costs and those children at risk of hunger may also suffer from social isolation, loneliness and inactivity.

’These factors can combine to lead to significant weight loss or gain and negative impacts on physical and mental well-being.

’During the summer period and into the autumn term we will be working with government and our third sector partners to gain a better understanding of the nature and extent of "holiday hunger" and exploring how together we might arrive at a longer term solution.’

Neal Mellon, the chief executive of the Foodbank, said that his organisation was currently putting together a project for the next few weeks, working with partners, and full details would be announced shortly.

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’During school holiday periods we, and other organisations see a marked increase in demand for our services, both in terms of food, financial support, in relation to school uniforms and rental and mortgage payments,’ he said.

He added that this demand was anticipated to increase this year as the impact of Covid-19 was felt.

The Foodbank says it and its partner agencies are ready to help and that support is only a phone call away.

To get in touch on either ring 646999, freephone 08081624610, text 311550or by calling in to Ballafletcher House, Tromode.