Two Donegal groups have joined a new pilot programme to provide meals to vulnerable children and young people during the school summer holidays in Donegal.
The ASPIRE Donegal Project by Donegal Youth Service and The Foróige Club at the Deck in Donegal Town will support young people who may not have access to a filling meal when schools are closed. Both groups are managed by Donegal Education & Training Board.
The meals will be provided through UBU Your Place Your Space, a national scheme that funds youth services for young people aged 10 to 24.
The youth services will try out different ways of giving meals to young people, including:
- having meals prepared and delivered
- cooking meals on-site at youth centres
An independent evaluator, hired by Education and Training Boards Ireland (ETBI), will review how the pilot works from start to finish. This will help decide if the programme should be expanded in future years.
The pilot programme will officially begin today, 3 June 2025.
Fine Gael Senator Nikki Bradley said: “This is a major step in guaranteeing that everyone has the very best start in life, and I look forward to seeing the pilot scheme in action.
“I encourage families in Donegal that may need a little extra help this summer to contact their local Education & Training Board for details.”
