MORE than 700 ingredient boxes a week will be delivered to families across west Cheshire over the summer holidays.

The project is part of a holiday activity fund which provides free nutritious food and activities at a wide range of holiday clubs over the summer.

Throughout the borough, groups have been set up alongside existing community groups and foodbanks to make sure every resident is able to access the food they need during the coronavirus pandemic.

Cheshire West and Chester Council has pledged to work with these groups to support the response, including helping to establish a food hub in Winsford to offer additional food to groups.

This hub, led by social enterprises Changing Lives Together and The Welcome Network, will deliver the food boxes to families to help community groups which cannot offer their usual face-to-face holiday lunch services.

Cllr Louise Gittins, council leader and cabinet member for wellbeing, said: “This remains a difficult and unprecedented time, and we know that there are families in our communities who are struggling financially.

“This project ensures that those families will receive food boxes full of the ingredients they need to create lunches each week.

“It is also yet another fantastic example of how charitable, voluntary and community groups are working with the council and its partners, with all playing their part to look after each other during this uncertain time.

“The hub is filling a vital gap for groups who don’t have the space or resources on this scale, particularly during a time when a lot of food is being delivered to people’s doors.

“The work in our communities has been fantastic, and this resource enhances what these groups are already doing as well as filling a gap while people can’t meet face-to-face in the same way.”

Holiday provision in west Cheshire is funded through the Department for Education’s Holiday Activity Fund and led by Edsential in partnership with the council, Cheshire West Voluntary Action and The Welcome Network.

As part of this provision, community groups and organisations are also providing craft and activity packs and ideas for families to enjoy in their homes and local area.

Cllr Mandy Clare, the council’s champion for poverty and inequality, said: “The last few weeks have been so hard on families, and if you have managed to struggle through this far, we salute you for keeping going.

“As part of our programme of support to families, we are so pleased that we can work with Edsential and our partners to provide more than 100 free holiday club opportunities for kids to let off steam and have some fun.

“We’re committed as a council to doing our best to make things easier for families where we can and want to thank our partners at Edsential for leading on this vital work during the summer holidays.”