A SUMMER scheme in West Belfast which has been providing breakfast and lunch for children during the summer has been praised.
The initiative, which is run by Lagmore Youth Project, has been providing the two meals to hundreds of children from Monday to Friday during July and August.
Lord Mayor Róis-Máire Donnelly visited Mount Eagles Community Centre to spend time with the young people to understand more about the scheme.
It comes as Sinn Féin MLA Danny Baker is hoping to bring a Private Member's Bill to extend Free School Meals payments throughout the school holidays.
The bill, if passed, would support over 90,000 children in the North with nearly 10,000 of those being in West Belfast.
The bill has been passed to committee stage and Stormont and will go before its next stage when the Assembly resumers in September following the summer recess.
Speaking to the Andersonstown News, Danny said: "Lagmore Youth Project has been running breakfast and lunch programmes for the last three years.
"I volunteered the first year it was launched and that was when my eyes were opened to the level of child poverty in the community.
"Kids can come here without being part of the summer scheme. It is open to all.
"As well as getting breakfast and lunch, they take part in activities too. It runs Monday to Friday during the whole summer.
"Many organisations like this have been doing the heavy lifting and my Holiday Hunger Bill is needed to support that.
"I want to support 90,000 children over all holiday periods. This is one piece of a large puzzle to try and end child poverty and give children the opportunity to reach their full potential."
