Sainsbury's has announced a fresh £8 million funding pledge to combat school holiday hunger, aiming to fund more than 500,000 additional holiday club places by the end of its latest three-year commitment, extending support through to at least March 2029. The supermarket giant said the investment builds on its partnership with Comic Relief and complements the government's Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) programme, which provides free holiday clubs and meals for eligible children in England.
Growing Need for Support
The move comes as concern grows over the number of families struggling to put food on the table during school holidays. According to the Food Foundation, more than two million children in the UK live in food-insecure households. Sainsbury's said it has already donated the equivalent of 60 million meals through Comic Relief and is aiming to raise £30 million by 2030, helping to provide the equivalent of 120 million meals for children and families across the UK.
Urging Government Action
The retailer is also urging ministers to go further by extending the HAF scheme to cover all school holidays, including half-term breaks, and by widening eligibility to match free school meal rules. Ruth Cranston, Sainsbury's director of sustainability, said: "Too many children are at risk of going without the food they need during the school holidays – something we simply can't ignore. We need continued, system-wide action to close the holiday hunger gap, so that no child goes hungry."
Fundraising Events and Customer Contributions
As part of the fundraising drive, Sainsbury's and Argos employees will take part in a series of sponsored events over July and August, including an Olympic torch-style relay from Wick to Penzance, a football tournament, and a 200-person sports day at the London Stadium in the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. Customers can also contribute by donating in stores, online, or by converting Nectar points into donations. Sainsbury's will match all customer donations made to Comic Relief until July 31.
Cranston added: "It's been incredible to see our colleagues rally behind this cause – taking on everything from personal challenges to team events right across the UK to raise vital funds for Comic Relief and the organisations working on the ground to tackle food insecurity."
