Agenda item

7.1

The Committee received a report of the Director of Policy, Performance and Communications, which contained an evaluation of a pilot project run over the six weeks summer holidays of 2017, with funding set aside from the Fairness Commission.  The Project was to contribute to the development of a sustainable approach to reducing holiday hunger in Sheffield during holidays, when children did not have access to free school meals.  As part of the procurement process, proposals from a number of organisations or partnerships had been invited to show how they could develop, co-ordinate and run programmes offering free nutritious food and enriching activities, based on available evidence.

7.2

Adele Robinson (Social Justice and Inclusion Manager) introduced the report, and also in attendance for this item were Sue Pearson (Voluntary Action Sheffield) and Cat Ross (Homestart).

7.3

Adele Robinson gave a brief presentation, informing of the five delivery partners and the areas in which activities took place, providing statistical information in terms of the food and activities in the different neighbourhoods, the delivery model for developing sustainable schemes in the neighbourhoods, and details of the specific types of food and meals provided.

7.4

Sue Pearson, representing Voluntary Action Sheffield (VAS), who were the successful bidder for the pilot, and who sub-contracted the work to the five delivery partners, reported on the various activities involved as part of the project.

7.5

Members of the Committee raised questions, and the following responses were provided:-

·                Whilst every possible effort was made, given the level of funding (£30,000) and the short lead-in time in respect of the pilot project, it had not been possible to target all families who would benefit from such provision.  In the Burngreave Ward, 51% of families were living in poverty but, as no proposals were received from any organisations or partnerships, there had not been any schemes in this area.  If future projects were to be run, it was hoped that, as well as more funding being available, the lead-in time would be longer, thereby allowing for more time to identify those families in need.  Further work was also required to identify those families in need who did not necessarily live in the traditionally poorer areas of the City. 

·                Whilst it was accepted that there would have been a number of children and families in the Burngreave Ward who could have benefited from the pilot project, as part of the agreed procurement process, only those organisations and partnerships who had responded were able to take part in the pilot.  As part of the planning process for a further project in 2019, invitations would be sent to more organisations or partnerships. 

·                Whilst every effort had been made to provide a wide variety of food for the children, taking cultural and religious needs into consideration, there had been certain limitations in this regard as the food had been donated. 

7.6

RESOLVED: That the Committee:-

(a)       notes the contents of the report now submitted, together with the information reported as part of the presentation and the responses to the questions now raised;

(b)       thanks Adele Robinson, Sue Pearson and Cat Ross for     attending the meeting and responding to the questions raised; and

(c)        whilst welcoming the excellent work undertaken as part of the pilot project in 2017, and expressing the will to support similar projects in the future, requests that consideration be given to having a longer lead-in time to allow for more detailed work to be undertaken, to include the use of Super Output Area data, in connection with identifying levels of deprivation, and thereby extending the project to more families in need.