Applications open for £100k fund to help tackle food poverty across Trafford

Schools, charities and local organisations across Trafford are being encouraged to apply for a slice of £100,000 grant funding from Trafford Housing Trust for holiday food projects in 2021.

The aim is to fund projects across the whole of the borough and throughout all school holidays from Easter through to Christmas.

Eligible groups can apply for the funding through the Trust’s Active Appetites programme, and there is no limit on how much organisations can apply for.

Alongside food provision, projects can include ways to support parents, improve mental health, encourage social interaction, healthy eating and activities and to build community integration.

Any provision in addition to food should consider what else is happening locally and use the opportunities to support families and signpost to other services, says the trust.

In addition, the trust is working alongside Summer of Sports, a programme of activity managed by TMBC in partnership with MUFC, LCC, Sale Sharks, Altrincham FC and other sports providers.

They will be running drop-in activities in the Old Trafford, Partington, Broomwood, Sale West and Sale Moor areas during the Easter and Summer holidays.

So they are looking in particular for projects that can also provide food for children accessing the Summer of Sports activities running in August.

Since its launch in July 2019, the Active Appetites programme has provided £130,000 in funding.

That money has helped 1,640 children by providing around 16,000 free meals and 3,500 activity sessions.

“Holiday hunger has been an issue in Trafford and throughout the country for some time, but due to the negative effects of the pandemic we are concerned that there will be an increasing number of families needing our support this year,” said Larry Gold, CEO of Trafford Housing Trust.

“This problem is something we want to tackle head on through the Active Appetites programme, and we look forward to working with organisations who can unite to ensure children and families across Trafford have access to food support when they need it most.”

Applications are now open and close on 1st February 2021. You can apply here.