Tackling Holiday Hunger
For many families, the school summer holidays bring a welcome break, for others, they remove a vital resource. Around 96,000 children in Northern Ireland receive a free school meal during term time. Once the summer holidays begin, that support disappears, at the same time as childcare and activity costs go up. This is sometimes called holiday hunger, and it is a real and growing pressure for households already struggling with the cost of living.
The good news is there is support available, from emergency food access to financial help and ways to stretch a food budget further. This guide brings it all together in one place.
Emergency food access
If you need food today, these are the first places to try.
Advice NI: Advice NI can issue vouchers for a food parcel containing at least three days of food. Freephone helpline: 0800 915 4604.
Local independent food banks: Many food banks in Northern Ireland operate outside the Trussell network. Your local independent advice service is the best way to find out what is available in your area. Most food banks also provide toiletries and other household essentials alongside food.
Community Food Members: Across Northern Ireland, community and voluntary organisations receive surplus food through FareShare NI and redistribute it locally, often through pantries, lunch clubs or drop-in sessions. If there is a Community Food Member near you, it is worth asking what they offer. You can call us to find out if one of our Community Food Members is near you – 028 90332230
Financial support for food and essentials
Healthy Start: Payments for pregnant women and families with children under four, to help with the cost of formula, fruit and vegetables. Roughly half of those eligible are not currently claiming it, so it is worth checking if you qualify.
Discretionary Support: Grants and interest-free loans from the Department for Communities for households in a crisis situation, including help with essential items. Apply through nidirect or with support from Advice NI.
Universal Credit Contingency Fund: A non-repayable grant to cover living expenses if you are waiting on your first Universal Credit payment.
Advice NI helpline: For benefits, debt and wider crisis support: 0800 915 4604.
Holiday food and activity provision for children
More than 80 organisations across Northern Ireland run summer holiday clubs, giving children from low-income families access to food and activities during the school break. There is no single directory covering all of them, so the best starting points are:
- Your local council, many of which fund or list holiday provision in their area
- Children in Northern Ireland (CiNI), which runs a Holiday Hunger campaign and can point you toward local clubs
Stretching your food budget this summer
A number of supermarkets run kids eat free or kids eat for £1 schemes in Northern Ireland this summer.
Tesco Café: Kids eat free with any adult purchase, however small, when dining in. Requires a Tesco Clubcard or the app. Running 25 June to 1 September 2026, seven days a week.
Asda Café: Kids under 16 eat for £1, with no adult purchase required. Available every day, all year round, one meal per child per day. Includes a free piece of fruit, and a free Ella’s Kitchen pouch for under 18 months.
Sainsbury’s Café: £1 kids’ meals with an adult hot main, from 11:30am daily.
A number of other UK-wide chains, including Pizza Hut, TGI Fridays and several Italian restaurant groups, also run kids eat free deals during school holidays. Some of these have branches in Northern Ireland and some do not, so it is worth checking your local branch or an up to date tracker such as MoneySavingExpert’s kids eat free page before planning a trip.
Please note that these are commercial offers, not a safety net. They usually require an adult to dine-in, transport, and an adult with money to spend. They can help a family budget go further, but they are not a substitute for the support that disappeared when the Holiday Hunger Scheme ended.
Where to start
If you are unsure where to begin, Advice NI’s helpline (0800 915 4604) is a good single point of contact. They can talk through emergency food access, benefits, and financial support together, and point you toward local provision in your area.
No family should have to face the summer holidays wondering how they will feed their children. If you know a family who needs this information, please share it.
