Free holiday meals for Preston children

The Ingol/Broughton parish partnership in the City of Preston is running the scheme - to be known locally as ‘Friday Feast‘ - which will happen on six Fridays over the summer at St Margaret’s, Ingol.

To date more than 60 parishioners from the two parishes are committed to help as volunteers.

Father Shaun Baldwin, Vicar of Broughton, said : “The aim is to reach out in particular during the school summer holiday to children who are dependent on free school meals, to ensure they have food. There will also be a ‘pay as you can’ market for families, with produce being provided by local suppliers.

“Grateful thanks particularly to Greg Smith of Together Lancashire for his help and support and also to my colleague, Rev. Rie Walker, who has been doing magnificent job organising and coordinating everything locally and with our other partners.”

The other partners in the Scheme are Preston City Coumcil; Harris Museum; Preston Amounderness Rotary Club, and local schools and other churches in Ingol.

Speaking about the initiative Rt Rev. Philip North, Bishop of Burnley, added: I am really thrilled our churches, alongside their many partners, are taking this piece of work on and the enthusiasm for it across the churches is really encouraging. It will be regularly in my prayers and I wish all involved every success.”

The programme launches on July 27, for more information about Friday Feast contact Father Shaun Baldwin, Vicar of Broughton on 01772 862330.