Filling the Holiday Gap scheme returns for Easter break

The Filling the Holiday Gap scheme is designed to replace the term-time free school meals received by many children.

It aims to provide funding to public sector and voluntary and community sector (VCS) organisations and other charitable groups to help them ensure families they are working with don’t suffer acute food poverty during school holiday periods.

A total of £10,000 is being made available for the Easter scheme, and the deadline for applications to be received is midday on Thursday 28th March.

Organisations and groups interested in taking part in the scheme can find further details – including an application form – at www.hartlepool.gov.uk/fillingthegap2019

The Easter scheme follows on from the success of several others which ran during the summer 2017, summer 2018 and Christmas 2018 school holidays.

Councillor Christopher Akers-Belcher, Leader of the Council and Chair of the Finance and Policy Committee, said: “I am delighted that, despite the financial pressures which the Council continues to face, we are once again making money available to support this scheme which is of vital importance to the most vulnerable families in our town.”

Councillor Brenda Harrison, Hartlepool Borough Council’s Chair of Children’s Services Committee, said: “Our Council is determined to stand up for the town’s most hard-pressed families with children, and this was proven by the department recently winning the prestigious national Local Government Chronicle’s Children’s Services of the Year 2019 award.

“Our Filling the Holiday Gap schemes highlight this important commitment to protecting and supporting vulnerable children within the borough, who may often go hungry during school holiday breaks.

“We would urge as many local organisations as possible to apply for this funding opportunity before the deadline of Thursday 28 March.”

For further information or to make an application, please visit www.hartlepool.gov.uk/fillingthegap2019