Cash For Kids is the first organisation to receive funding from a £1m pot to tackle hunger outside of school term time

Funding to fight school holiday hunger is set to be allocated to groups across Scotland.

The Scottish Government’s £1.5 million Fair Food Fund will support projects that help people move away from emergency food provision and access healthy, nutritious food through community based activities and support.

Charity Cash for Kids received a grant of £150,000 this week to help local community organisations support children during the school holidays with activities and access to meals.

The funding is the first allocation of £1 million from the fund over the next two years which will be used to tackle food insecurity outside of term time.

Communities secretary Aileen Campbell announced the funding while visiting Pilton Youth and Children’s Project, which will provide activities for 250 children this summer.

She said: “In a country as prosperous as Scotland, no child should be going hungry. We already offer free school meals to all pupils in P1 to 3 and families on low incomes, but we know that costs can often rise during the school holidays and it can be a struggle for families to provide affordable healthy and nutritious food as well as fun activities for children every day.

“Earlier this year we announced an additional £1 million from the Fair Food Fund will be available over the next two years to tackle food insecurity during the school holidays.”

Debbie Fraser, regional charity manager at Cash for Kids, said: “We are delighted to be working in partnership with Scottish Government to ensure children and young people across Scotland are supported throughout the summer holidays. The funding will make a huge difference to holiday clubs and grass root groups and will ensure children have a great experience this summer.”