Bristol Sport Foundation and Ashton Gate Stadium teamed up to deliver more than 1,000 free meals to children in Bristol through their Your Holiday Hub camps this summer.

Funded by the government’s Holiday Activities and Food Programme, Your Holiday Hub summer camps took place at four venues across the City of Bristol this summer – including Hannah More Primary School.

Aimed at supporting those in receipt of free school meals through holiday periods, the summer camps help children stay active, eat healthily and provide opportunities for them to develop their knowledge about health and nutrition through enriching activities.

Bristol Sport Foundation, which is based at Ashton Gate, delivered 40 sessions over the summer break, with 1,070 meals provided to 652 children thanks to the chefs at Ashton Gate Stadium 

Maickel English, Bristol Sport Foundation Community Delivery Manager, said: “We’ve run four Your Holiday Hub camps throughout the city over the summer, and we’ve worked with these children at Hannah More both in term time and during the holidays.

“It’s the perfect opportunity for them to engage in sport but also for us to provide them with some fantastic food during the holidays. Throughout the summer it’s been great to provide children with the opportunity to stay active, healthy and happy with the support of Ashton Gate with the food and then the sporting provisions that our team have provided.”

Mark Kelly, Managing Director, Ashton Gate Stadium, said: “Ashton Gate is proud of its ongoing partnership with the Bristol Sport Foundation. The work that they continue to do in the community is outstanding and our team of chefs and volunteers loved playing their part in helping provide and deliver these nutritious meals for children on their holiday camps.”

As well as providing nutritious food and activities for the children who attend, the sessions also aim to ensure that the families who participate in the programme develop their understanding of nutrition and food budgeting.

Ruth Cochrane, Friends of Hannah More Lead, said: “For some people having that lunch provided is a real lifeline. Having something that gets the kids active is really important and having coaches who are friendly and can nurture some of the children who maybe a bit more reluctant to join in.”

Sarah Frank, Community Coordinator at Hannah More Primary, said: “What’s great about lunch here is that they all sit down together. I think for the families, it’s four hours a day that gives parents a bit of respite, time to spend with their younger siblings maybe.

“It just gives four hours for the children to come and be themselves in a place that they feel safe with some really fun professionals doing really interesting things with them.”