Volunteers help prepare packed lunches for struggling families

Benenden, a health and wellbeing provider, has donated money to pay for 1,000 healthy lunches for children who during term time would be entitled to a free school dinner. And colleagues joined volunteers to help prepare the lunches.

Bolton has some of the most deprived areas in England, with 8,600 children eligible for free school meals.

The Bolton Lunches project led by Urban Outreach supports households on low incomes, providing help to relieve pressure on budgets and ensuring that the children do not skip meals.

The lunches are prepared and packed by an army of volunteers every day and the lunches are then handed out at 19 distribution centres across town.

Paul Keenan, group head of communications at Benenden, said: “It is so important that children from low-income families are given the same opportunities for a nutritious meal as children from other backgrounds.

“This project resonates with our values as a health and wellbeing mutual and it has inspired us to create a healthy eating leaflet, which will be given to each of the families receiving the lunches.

“As a leading UK health and wellbeing organisation, Benenden aims to support a range of local projects or activities that have a real impact on the communities which they aim to help. Because of the levels of deprivation in Bolton and the opportunity to have a direct impact on the health of children, this was an ideal choice for our support. We hope the children enjoy their lunch and the parents find the tips on our leaflet useful.”

Dave Bagley, chief executive at Urban Outreach, said: “We really value the support we have received from Benenden.”

The project also helps improve community links as they hear about the summer activities taking place which children can take part in — reducing boredom and antisocial behaviour over the holidays.

For more information on the project and how to help or receive a packed lunch for your child, please visit urbanoutreach.co.uk.