Reverend Lynne Cullens is Chief Executive of the Tranmere Community Project (TCP) that was established in 1991 by the Methodist Church with the aim of reducing the effects of poverty and acting as a resource for local people by providing services, advice and assistance. TCP oversees delivery of a programme of holiday food and fun as part of the Feeding Birkenhead campaign to ensure local children eligible for free school meals can access ‘food and fun’ every day without charge before they return to school. The relief and prevention of child hunger is a key priority of the Feeding Birkenhead campaign, following evidence that the number of families relying on food banks tends to increase during school holidays, as children who usually receive a free school meal during term time are not able to do so out of term time.
“…The publication of the cross-party Feeding Britain report in 2014 – a strategy for zero hunger in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland – served to highlight the issue of the increasing difficulty those living in poverty, often working low income families, can have sourcing food…”
Lynne, please can you tell us a bit about your role at Tranmere Community Project and how you got involved with this and the delivery of Feeding Birkenhead?
I’ve recently taken over management of the project and my role is to oversee delivery of its services. Fortunately I’ve inherited a skilled and committed staff team who make that task much easier.
TCP and other local voluntary sector groups became involved in the Feeding Birkenhead initiative through the encouragement and support of Frank Field, our local MP. On a practical level our involvement has been made possible via a grant that has come to us from the ‘Your Wirral’ fund and a number of generous local businesses – such as MD Insurance and Marks & Spencer – and local Housing Associations such as Riverside and Wirral Methodist Housing have contributed.
What is the scale of the problem like around child hunger in Birkenhead and how do holidays impact that?
In some local schools 60% of children are eligible for free school meals. Once school term-time ends those families have the additional financial burden of needing to provide lunch each day. In some families that is a considerable extra outlay when resources are already scarce.
What do you offer the children and what difference does it make to their lives?
We offer all children who come along from families eligible for free school meals a lunch for three days a week during the holidays. Many organisations locally have decided to provide some activities alongside lunch to provide space for children and parents to relax and enjoy some time together without the worry of the cost. We have had a range of activities including circus school sessions, arts and crafts, jewellery making, dance and football skills.
How has the local community got involved?
Each of our sessions has been staffed by paid staff but also by volunteers who have given their time to come along and help make sandwiches or run sessions. Local businesses have also offered to take part… The manager of the local Co-op even came over during our sessions last week and offered donations of food and staff time to help us over the summer! Everyone has been so positive, supportive and generous.
How is the Government and Parliament helping?
The publication of the cross-party Feeding Britain report in 2014 – a strategy for zero hunger in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland – served to highlight the issue of the increasing difficulty those living in poverty, often working low income families, can have sourcing food. Piloting these summer holiday schemes for Feeding Birkenhead has shown that there is need for the provision of some kind of support to such families during the school holiday breaks. Hopefully politicians of all parties, voluntary sector organisations, churches and other faith groups will be encouraged and inspired to support or provide similar projects in their own areas.
What is the best part of the programme for you and the others who support?
Seeing the children enjoying themselves! We have all felt the privilege of being involved in these sessions.
What is next for you and the project after the summer?
Once term-time begins in September we run alternative education provision from our TCP centre and on site in primary schools. At our centre we essentially provide a form of school for teenagers from high schools across the Wirral who require support to remain engaged in education. TCP has a tremendous and proud track record of helping young people, often from very difficult backgrounds, turn their lives around and successfully reengage in education, learning or vocational training.
http://www.tcp.org.uk/homepage.aspx
