SOUTHEND schools are helping parents who struggle to provide nourishing meals for children during the school holidays thanks to an initiative launched by celebrity chef Jamie Oliver.

The six-week summer break is the hardest for parents on low incomes, particularly those with several mouths to feed.

Free hot meals provided to children whose parents are on benefits or low wages which suddenly cease, leaving families struggling to make ends meet.

Two Southend schools are trying to help by providing free meals on certain days during holidays.

One is Prince Avenue Primary School in Westcliff. The school recently featured on Jamie and Jimmy’s Friday Night Feast, filmed at the end of Southend Pier.

Jamie is backing a campaign to combat childhood hunger and poor nutrition and visited the school.

Headteacher William Hill said: “We are doing a trial. We did a free meal day for about 30 children in the summer holiday when Jamie came down.

“We plan to do one in the February half-term. We’re going to invite children who are entitled to free school meals and their parents.”

The school has attracted support from a Southend church and a willing band of helpers.

Mr Hill added: “We’ve got some volunteers together and the Vineyard Church and foodbank are helping.

“It will be run by staff and volunteers during the holiday and we’ve got parents to come and help. We’re aiming to do more in the Easter holidaysas well as during the May half- term.

“Holding them throughout the summer holidays is our long-term goal.

“The Vineyard Church is helping us with food and we’re contacting supermarkets like Tesco and Waitrose.”

The problem hits hardest in the Milton and Kursaal wards . Milton Hall Primary School is also helping to feed youngsters during holidays.

Mr Hill said: “It’s a real issue if you have five kids on free school meals and they come into the breakfast club. They have two meals a day provided for them but in the summer holiday that doesn’t happen. We can’t provide that level of support but we’re hoping to plug the gap a bit so families aren’t completely hung out to dry in the holidays. We will do holiday meals on a regular basis.

“The problem is we are never certain what food we are going to get from the supermarkets until the day before but we’ve got our school cook and people with catering experience.

“It won’t be cordon bleu but they will be healthy, nutritious meals. We can do that and it won’t just be food. We’ll have fun activities and games during the day.

“Jamie Oliver’s Fresh One Productions were keen to support us so that will help raise our profile when we approach supermarkets.”