Preston City Council held 60 Holiday Markets across Preston this summer to help ease holiday hunger.
A term used to define a shortage of nutritious food for families and children during school holidays, holiday hunger can put increased pressure on family budgets. It can affect children who receive free school meals but also those families on low or insecure income.
Working with national charity FareShare, the council developed the initiative and carried out pilots last year. Proving a real success with 36 markets delivered over the summer of 2018, Preston City Council wanted to continue the success this year.
The Holiday Market project, supported by Preston City Council and delivered by schools, faith organisations and community groups across Preston, welcomed around 3,400 visitors during the summer break.
Support also came from Let's Grow Preston and local allotmenteers, who donated gluts of fruit and veg to increase the amount of nutritious food available.
The positive feedback from the pilots was echoed by the families who visited the summer markets. Families attending told us the Market's made it easier to manage their budgets during a time when costs rise by up to £30 per child, per week.
Councillor Nweeda Khan, Cabinet member for communities and social justice at Preston City Council. said:
"The cost of buying extra food and entertaining children through the school summer holidays can be a worry. That's why it's a priority for the council to be supporting the Holiday Market initiative across the city.
"Holiday Markets are not food banks, they have been developed to increase access to good food for families facing food insecurity, without judgement.
"These figures show their success for a second year and the high value to Preston families."
A visitor to one of the holiday markets said:
"Great idea having the summer market, it's really helped with the financial cost of summer holidays. The fresh fruit and veg has been amazing to cook with and we have all loved it. Thank you."
A second visitor added:
"Thank you so much for arranging the summer market, it has been like a lifeline, ensuring we have food on the table. It's made a big difference to our household bills!"