Meals & More has announced its largest ever funding round, committing £540,000 to support children and families during the school holidays, as communities across the UK face mounting financial pressure.
Founded in 2015 by leading foodservice wholesaler Brakes, the charity has grown significantly with backing from major corporate partners including Kellogg’s, PepsiCo, Unilever and the Quilter Foundation. This year’s increased investment comes in response to a sharp rise in demand, with more families than ever seeking support during the holiday period.
The funding will support more than 60 delivery partners and over 400 holiday clubs nationwide, helping to provide an estimated 350,000 meals alongside programmes designed to support children’s wellbeing and development.
Sam Payne, Managing Director of Meals & More, said the scale of need has reached unprecedented levels.
“We are seeing need on a scale we could never have imagined when Brakes founded Meals & More. Families who have never asked for help before are now turning to our partners because they simply cannot stretch their budgets any further,” he said.
“This funding is our strongest commitment yet because every child deserves good food, safe spaces and the chance to grow. Our partners are doing extraordinary work in the toughest circumstances, and this funding is a recognition of their dedication. It’s also a call to action because no child’s wellbeing should depend on the luck of where they live.”
Alongside meal provision, the charity will continue its popular ‘Big Day Out’ initiative, which provides grants to holiday clubs to organise special trips for children. For many, these experiences offer rare opportunities and lasting memories beyond their day-to-day environment.
Laura English of delivery partner EMPOWER Youth Zones in Manchester highlighted the impact of the scheme on families who fall outside traditional support thresholds.
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“For families who don’t quite meet the criteria for funded support but are still really struggling during the school holidays, this provision makes a huge difference,” she said.
“We’ve seen children grow in confidence, build friendships and really look forward to coming back each holiday.”
As demand continues to rise, Meals & More is urging businesses, funders and community supporters to step forward and help sustain vital holiday provision, ensuring children across the UK have access to nutritious meals, safe spaces and enriching activities when school is out.
