Meals & More

Quick Stats

• Annual Income: £324,707 (year ending June 2024)
• Annual Expenditure: £600,818 (year ending June 2024)
• Grant Recipients: 47 delivery partner organisations (2024)
• Clubs Supported: 320 holiday clubs across the UK (2024)
• Impact: Over 2.5 million meals provided since 2015
• Geographic Focus: UK-wide (England, Scotland, Northern Ireland, Wales)

Contact Details

Address: Enterprise House, Eureka Business Park, Ashford, Kent TN25 4AG

Phone: 07483 354 001

Email: info@mealsandmore.co.uk

Website: www.mealsandmore.co.uk

Charity Number: 1179092

Overview

Meals & More was founded in 2015 by Brakes, a foodservice wholesaler, and registered as an independent charitable incorporated organisation (CIO) in 2018. The charity's mission is to help alleviate holiday hunger and create happier, healthier children through community clubs that provide tasty, nutritious food and enriching educational activities in a supportive environment. Over the past decade, the charity has grown from supporting three clubs to over 360 clubs across the UK, providing funding for more than 2.5 million meals. In 2024, the charity supported 47 delivery partner organisations operating 320 holiday clubs. The charity operates at a significant deficit (expenditure of £600,818 against income of £324,707 in 2024), indicating they draw from reserves and leverage corporate partnerships to maximize impact. Meals & More has been recognised through partnerships with major organisations including the Greggs Foundation (£28,500 grant in 2024) and Sysco (£50,000 annual commitment for Northern Ireland).

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Meals & More provides grants and support to charitable delivery partner organisations to operate holiday clubs during school holidays. The support package includes:

• Funding/Grants: Direct financial support to delivery partners (specific amounts per club not publicly disclosed)
• Food Provision: Tasty, nutritious food for children attending clubs
• Enrichment Activities: Educational and physical activities to boost health, self-belief and aspirations
• Operational Support: Resources and coordination to enable clubs to operate effectively

Applications are accepted on a referral and partnership basis rather than through an open application process.

Priority Areas

Geographic Priority: UK-wide coverage with specific focus on:

• North-east England
• North-west England
• South-west England
• Yorkshire
• Scotland
• Northern Ireland (where nearly 30% of children are eligible for free school meals and summer breaks last up to 9 weeks)

Beneficiary Priority:

• Children aged 5-16 living in food poverty and social isolation
• Families struggling during school holiday periods when free school meal support is not available
• Communities with high percentages of children eligible for free school meals

Activity Priority:

• Holiday clubs providing nutritious meals (breakfast or afternoon supper)
• Enriching educational activities
• Physical activities promoting health
• Safe, supportive environments during school holiday periods (Easter, Summer, Christmas)

What They Don't Fund

• Individual applications from families or children
• Schools or educational institutions (focus is on holiday provision outside term time)
• Organizations that do not operate holiday clubs for children experiencing food poverty
• Projects outside the UK
• One-off events without ongoing commitment to holiday club provision

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Governance and Leadership

Trustees: 10 trustees (none receive remuneration)

Key Staff:

• Peter McGrath, Operations Director

The charity has no trading subsidiaries and operates as an independent CIO. All charity reporting is up to date with the Charity Commission.

Leadership Perspective:

Peter McGrath, Operations Director, stated: “The need for support in many communities is growing. The leadership and team at Greggs Foundation are clearly passionate about our cause and their support will assist us in reaching even more children.”

How to Apply to Meals & More

How to Apply

Meals & More does not operate a public, open application process for funding.

New delivery partners are identified through referrals and established relationships rather than competitive grant applications. The charity appears to work with:

• Existing charitable organisations with track records in community support
• Referrals made by trustees, ambassadors, supporters, and regional connections
• Established partners in the holiday hunger and child poverty sectors

Getting on Their Radar

While Meals & More does not have a public application process, organisations interested in partnership may consider:

1. Demonstrated Track Record: The charity partners with established charitable organisations already operating or capable of operating holiday clubs. Examples of current delivery partners include:

• Children in Northern Ireland (CINI)
• Oasis UK Hub
• TLG (Transforming Lives for Good)

2. Direct Contact: Organisations can contact Meals & More directly at info@mealsandmore.co.uk or 07483 354 001 to express interest in becoming a delivery partner.

3. Corporate Partnership Route: Some delivery partnerships appear to be facilitated through corporate sponsors (e.g., Sysco's partnership specifically supports clubs in Northern Ireland through CINI).

4. Regional Connections: Given the charity's stated growth plans (adding 10 new delivery partners in 2025), they may be receptive to approaches from organisations with strong regional presence in underserved areas.

Decision Timeline

Not publicly disclosed. The charity operates support across three holiday periods annually (Easter, Summer, Christmas), suggesting partnership decisions are likely made in advance of these periods.

Success Rates

Not applicable - no open application process.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable - no open application process.

Application Success Factors

Given Meals & More's partnership-based model, organisations seeking to become delivery partners should consider:

Organisational Requirements:

• Charitable status: Delivery partners referenced are charitable organisations
• Existing infrastructure: Ability to operate holiday clubs providing meals and activities
• Geographic coverage: Presence in areas with high child poverty and food insecurity
• Capacity: Ability to operate multiple holiday clubs (current partners typically support multiple clubs)

Alignment Factors:

• Mission alignment: Focus on alleviating holiday hunger and supporting children in poverty
• Holistic approach: Commitment to providing both nutritious food AND enriching activities (not just meals)
• Safe environments: Ability to create safe, supportive spaces for vulnerable children
• Community trust: Established relationships with communities and families

What Meals & More Values (based on their stated mission):

• Creating happier, healthier children through community clubs
• Nutritious food provision (not just any food)
• Educational and physical enrichment activities
• Building children's self-belief and life aspirations
• Addressing social isolation as well as food poverty

Scale and Impact:

• The charity has grown from 3 clubs (2015) to 360+ clubs (2025)
• Current delivery partners typically operate multiple clubs (e.g., 47 partners operating 320 clubs = average 6-7 clubs per partner)
• Ability to scale impact appears valued

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• No public application process: Meals & More identifies delivery partners through referrals and established relationships, not open competitive applications
• Partnership model: This is a collaborative partnership model, not traditional grant-making - partners receive funding, food, and operational support
• Charitable organisations only: Delivery partners are charitable organisations with infrastructure to operate holiday clubs
• Growth trajectory: The charity is expanding (adding 10 new delivery partners in 2025), suggesting openness to new partnerships
• Corporate leverage: Major corporate partnerships (Sysco £50k/year, Greggs Foundation £28.5k) suggest some partnerships may be facilitated through corporate sponsors
• Holistic approach valued: Focus is on both nutritious meals AND enriching activities - not just food provision
• Direct contact recommended: Interested organisations should contact info@mealsandmore.co.uk directly to explore partnership opportunities
• Track record essential: Existing delivery partners appear to be established charities with proven ability to deliver community support programmes

Similar Funders

These funders have a similar focus and geographic reach:

• Feeding Britain
• Armed Forces Education Trust
• Pom Charitable Trust
• The Greggs Foundation
• The E H Smith Charitable Trust
• P F Charitable Trust
• The Caring Family Foundation
• The Spoore, Merry And Rixman Foundation
• Bauer Radio's Cash For Kids Charities
• The Kelly Family Charitable Trust

References

• Charity Commission Register: Meals & More (1179092) - https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-details/?regid=1179092&subid=0 -
• The Grocer: "Greggs Foundation to support Meals & More with £28.5k grant" - https://www.thegrocer.co.uk/news/greggs-foundation-to-support-meals-and-more-with-285k-grant/709238.article
• Sysco Ireland: "Sysco Partners with Charity 'Meals & More'" - https://syscoireland.com/sysco-partners-with-charity-meals-more/
• LACA: "Greggs Foundation supports charity Meals & More with grant" - https://laca.co.uk/news/greggs-foundation-supports-charity-meals-more-grant
• BFFF: "'Meals & More' Becomes a Charity to end Holiday Hunger" - https://bfff.co.uk/meals-more-becomes-a-charity-to-end-holiday-hunger/
• Meals & More website: www.mealsandmore.co.uk -
• Hospitality Ireland: "Sysco Partners With Meals & More To Provide 14,000 Meals To Children" - https://www.hospitalityireland.com/food/sysco-partners-with-meals-more-to-provide-14000-meals-to-children-211582