A food distributor has been working with councils across north east Wales to help families battle food price inflation.

Harlech Foodservice, who have a base in Chester, is working as part of a Welsh Government scheme that sees qualifying pupils from Wrexham, Flintshire and Denbighshire enjoy 12 days of activities at their schools in the first three weeks of the summer holidays.

Children at participating schools receive free breakfast and lunch which bookend a morning of fun overseen by volunteer members of staff.

Harlech Key Account Manager David Roberts, who has helped organise the deliveries, said: “It’s gone down very well with the schools – they love it.

“It’s not just a question of delivering supplies, we also have to look at the nutritional value of what we provide because this is about healthy eating and at the same time keeping the children interested in what they’re eating.

“It’s no good providing nutritious food that they don’t like because they just won’t eat it so we have to make sure it is tasty as well because much of what we do now with schools and healthcare is about environmental and social benefit.

“This is funded by Welsh Government so we have to ensure that we’re seen to be giving back something to the communities where we operate whether we’re providing school meals or for the NHS in Wales.

“That’s a big consideration for us and it’s the right thing to do and at the same time we want to give them nutritious food they want to eat and wherever possible we source that food as locally possible so that the money spent stays in Wales.”

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Helen Jones, of Wrexham Council’s Healthy Schools team, said: “The scheme runs from Monday to Thursday for the first three weeks of the summer holidays and we have six primary schools taking part with teachers dedicating their free time to supervise.

“It is something we have done in Wrexham since 2018 when we were one of the first local authorities to be involved and this year we have received additional funding for Bags Bwyd.

“This means at the end of the 12 days of activities we are able to send the pupils home with a bag of everyday essentials to help families cope during the current cost of living crisis.

“This would also not have been possible without the help of the Team at Youth Justice Service and the young people who have helped to pack the bags and deliver out to schools.”

In Flintshire there are 13 schools taking part in Food and Fun this year which is the highest number since it started in 2018.

Food and Fun is coordinated by Flintshire Healthy Schools in partnership with Newydd Catering, BCUHB Dieticians and Aura Leisure.

Newydd Business Operations Manager Rob Lawton said: “It is the biggest it’s ever been, involving more schools and more pupils than ever including two special schools for the first time.

“The numbers have been fantastic with up to 40 pupils per school attending each day and each Thursday parents and siblings are invited to a lunch with the children, with over 200 attending last week!”

Harlech Foodservice Director of Healthcare and Education Mark Lawton said: “This summer there will be 300 bags going out in Wrexham alone and there has been excellent take-up across all four counties (incvluding Anglesey) with over 1,500 pupils involved and enjoying healthy and tasty food as part of their programme of activities.”