#makelunch

School holidays are not just a break from the classroom. For many, they are also a break from hot meals.

For the thirteen weeks of school holidays this year, many pupils in the UK will not eat a hot meal each day. At school more than 1.2 million pupils who may otherwise go without are eligible to receive free school meals. Outside of term time though, free school meals are not available and many pupils are left without regular hot food.

This is where MakeLunch comes in. During school holidays, their Lunch Kitchens provide free, healthy, cooked food for pupils who usually receive free school meals. They believe that every child deserves to eat a cooked meal every day.

Since they started in July 2011 they've cooked and served over 8000 meals in more than 30 locations in England, Scotland and Wales. All their Kitchens are run by volunteers and are relying on donations of money and time to make things happen. And because they believe that one meal for one child makes a difference, they know that every single volunteer at every single Kitchen is important.

The Kitchens offer a free hot meal to children from low income families. They work together with the schools in their communities to make sure the families that need it the most get invited. Some of their Kitchens open every day of every school holiday, others might do a day a week, or pick a week or two to focus on. At some of the Kitchens, the children get involved with making the food. Others offer crafts, games and other activities. It varies from place to place, but the main aim is the same - providing meals to support families on tight budgets