£194,000 awarded to support summer holiday food and activity programmes across Glasgow
Twenty-three community groups have been awarded funding through the Comic Relief Nourish the Nation programme.
Administered by Foundation Scotland, the Comic Relief Nourish the Nation programme was designed to deliver summer holiday food and activity programmes for children and families across Glasgow.
Grants ranging from £3,789 to £10,000 were awarded to support a wide range of local initiatives providing free meals alongside activities during the school holidays. Support will help ensure children have access to nutritious food, safe spaces and opportunities to take part in positive activities over the school holidays.
Delivered by local organisations embedded in their communities, the initiatives will offer a mix of sports, creative sessions, outdoor activities and informal learning, alongside food provision. Many of the groups will focus on reaching families who may face additional barriers during the holidays, including increased costs and reduced access to childcare and support.
This investment reflects the ongoing need for accessible, community-based support during school holidays, particularly at a time when many households continue to experience financial pressure. By combining food with engaging activities, the funded projects also help to reduce isolation, support wellbeing and create opportunities for children and young people to connect with others.
All 23 awards have been made to groups working across Glasgow, including Easterhouse, Drumchapel, Govan, Pollok, Bridgeton, Maryhill, Royston, Tollcross and Castlemilk, ensuring support is available within local communities across the city, including the south side and east end. The programmes will run across the summer holidays, with many offering regular sessions to provide consistent support for families for up to five days a week over the six-week break.
This funding will help local organisations continue to play a vital role in supporting children and families, ensuring that the summer holidays remain a positive and inclusive experience for those who need it most.
received £9,612 to provide sports activities and free, nutritious meals three days a week during the summer holiday. Primarily reaching children and young people in Glasgow Green and Springburn Park, The programme began with a launch event at the start of the holidays, and shared this feedback:
“We have successfully launched and commenced our Nourish the Nation Food and Activity Programme on Friday 26th June which was a great success. The event went smoothly, and all the children and young people in attendance enjoyed free meals and participated in sports and physical activities.
We received positive feedback from the children and young people who participated, and overall, 60 children and young people attended the event. We are now looking forward to our upcoming sessions and continuing to make a positive impact in the community.
I want to express our gratitude for the Foundation Scotland funding support, as without it, this would not be possible. Your support has played a crucial role in helping us deliver this programme and make a difference in the lives of these children and young people. Thank you once again for your support.”
Other grants include:
towards its inclusive Summer programme for those living in the Greater Gorbals area of Glasgow, delivering a mix of creative, physical and wellbeing activities, alongside day trips planned by the young people. All activities are designed to support young people’s wellbeing, confidence, and connection to their community, with a particular focus on tackling food insecurity.
to deliver the Lunch Munch Club across three locations within Greater Pollok and Greater Govan, providing arts and crafts activities, healthy snacks, hot lunches, and breakfast packs for 30 children experiencing food poverty.
to deliver “Nourishing Holidays”, a summer food and outdoor learning programme across community garden sites in Royston, Milton and Springburn. The programme will provide free food-growing, gardening, nature-based learning and healthy eating activities alongside provision of nutritious food for children and families affected by poverty and food insecurity.
to support its Equal Play summer holiday programme for disabled children and young people in Castlemilk with complex support needs including autism, neurodiversity, non-verbal communication needs and personal care requirements. The programme is designed to address the limited availability of accessible holiday provision across Glasgow for children requiring specialist support and one-to-one care through inclusive centre-based activities, daily trips and full-day food provision delivered at no cost to families. Approximately 15 children and young people will benefit directly from the programme, alongside indirect respite benefits for parents and carers.
The full list of 23 awards:
For more information about the Comic Relief Nourish the Nation programme visit the Fund Information Page.