As the school holidays approach, Tesco is providing extra help to support children and their families facing hunger this summer. It comes in response to the crucial need to support children who would normally receive free school meals during term time and are therefore at risk of missing meals during the holiday period.
Trussell says food bank support for children remains 34% higher than before the pandemic, including a 24% increase in the number of emergency food parcels for children under-5.(1)
Meanwhile, a recent survey carried out by Felix, the new name for merged charities FareShare and The Felix Project which found that 41% of local charities receiving food via its nationwide food redistribution network have experienced an increase in demand in the last 12 months. For a further 13%, demand for food support had more than doubled in the last 12 months due to cost of living pressures.
Pre-filled donation bags
This summer, from 6th July to 16th August in Scotland and NI and 20th July to 30th August in England and Wales, Tesco will sell its pre-filled food donation bags in all large stores. The bags, which typically cost between £2 and £4, contain healthy and nutritious long-life food and essentials and can be picked up in store and paid for at the checkout. The donated items go directly to Felix and Trussell, who will distribute it to charities and food banks to help families who need it most across the UK.
Last summer, food banks in the Trussell community supported around 354,000 people with emergency food,124,000 of whom were children, and the charity expects to see continued high levels of need this summer.
Round up at the till
From Monday 3rd to Sunday 9th August, customers will have the chance to round up their bill at the checkout to the nearest pound with the funds being split between Felix and Trussell to support their work over the summer. Online customers will also be able to make a monetary donation through an online giving link on Tesco’s grocery home shopping website as they check out. Last year, generous Tesco shoppers donated just over £299,000.
Kids Eat Free in cafes & free fruit for kids
For families shopping in store, the supermarket will also be running its Kids Eat Free scheme in its 317 cafés across the UK over the school summer holidays. This year’s it’s been expanded to run for longer across all regions of the UK and now includes weekends. The supermarket’s cafés will be offering one free Kids Hot Meal Deal, Kids Breakfast or Kids Pick ‘n’ Mix deal with each item bought by an adult from as little as 60p, when showing their Tesco Clubcard or Clubcard App at the till.
Tesco is also bringing back Free Fruit for Kids for the summer. From 20th July 2026 to 30th August, children will be able to pick up free apples at checkouts in more than 800 large Tesco stores and 77 of its large Express stores. Click & Collect customers will also be given free apples for their children at selected stores.
Claire De Silva, Head of Communities at Tesco, said: “We want to be able to support our charity partners to help those needing a little extra support this summer. Our partnerships with Felix and Trussell are central to this aim.
“When you’re out doing your weekly shop this summer, dropping a few tins into a food collection point, picking up a food donation bag in our stores or rounding up our grocery bill, can make a difference to the lives of thousands of children in communities across the UK.”
Matthew van Duyvenbode, co-chief executive officer at Trussell, said: “Our community of food banks distributed more than 900,000 parcels for children last year, demonstrating the unacceptable levels of hunger and hardship so many families are currently facing. This isn’t right. That’s why the support of our partner Tesco is so crucial, providing in-store summer pick-up bags, making it much easier for people to support their local food bank throughout the school holidays.
“No-one should need to turn to a charity for something as essential as food, and as we work towards achieving the long-term change needed, Tesco’s and the public’s support will make a real difference to families across the UK during this school holiday. We are so grateful to Tesco and to everyone who donates food this summer.”
Charlotte Hill, CEO at Felix said: “We know from speaking to charities receiving food via our network that demand for food support is growing as people across the UK face cost-of-living pressures. During the school holidays, families will be facing additional financial burdens as they juggle the cost of childcare and food. Many will be turning to their local community and charities for support.
“That’s why the donation bags in Tesco stores are vital. The food donated will be shared with charities and community groups that can offer not just meals, but spaces and activities for children to play and make friends during the summer holidays, relieving the pressure on parents.
“Any Tesco shoppers that can donate an item or two to Felix will be making a valuable contribution to helping to support children and their families across the UK this summer. Together we can make a real difference, thank you Tesco.”
