A million meals have been provided for children in Stoke-on-Trent by a charity that aims to transform the lives of young people and their families in the city.
The Hubb Foundation served up its milestone dish at Co-op Academy Glebe in Fenton, on August 28.
Launched in 2018 by Port Vale FC’s co-owner, Carol Shanahan OBE, the charity works to provide free activities and food for children during school holidays.
Supported by a broad range of organisations, The Hubb Foundation’s work is delivered on behalf of Stoke-on-Trent City Council and funded by the Department of Education through its HAF programme (Holiday Activities and Food).
Adam Yates, Chief Operating Officer at The Hubb Foundation, said: “In less than six years, we have served a million meals to children in Stoke-on-Trent and given them opportunities to take part in a range of activities that help make holiday memories special.
“It’s a remarkable achievement, delivered with a great deal of help from across the city including Stoke-on-Trent City Council, our trustees, the local community, and our business supporters. It shows what is achievable when partners work together to address a need.
“The work we do but is reflective of the scale of the problem we’re facing as a community.
“There are 15,288 children who are eligible for free school meals in the city and around £1,000 of direct funding helps us support 40 disadvantaged children engage in a free full day holiday session which involves sports, activities, enrichment opportunities and a nutritious meal.
“Our focus now is to continue to work together to offer much needed help, building on the goodwill and support we receive from across the local community and businesses, so that we can expand the support we offer.
“It’s crucial that we continue to do so.”
Councillor Sarah Hill, Stoke-on-Trent City Council cabinet member for Children’s Services, said: “It’s fantastic to hear that the Hubb Foundation have distributed a million meals to families in the city.
“One of our core aims at the city council is to work with our partners to invest in early support services and make sure families are helped to give their children the best start in life.
“Around 250k of these meals were distributed thanks to the Hubb Foundation’s fantastic holiday provision which, in the summer, Easter and Christmas holidays, is funded thanks to our partnership with the Hubb Foundation to deliver the Holiday, Activities and Food (HAF) programme with funding from the Department for Education.”
The charity also has a Just Giving page where people can make any size of donation to support the charity’s work, www.justgiving.com/thehubbfoundation
