A charity event hosted by YMCA Cheltenham, aimed at helping families struggling with the cost of food during summer, drew 67 children and their families in one week alone. The charity's head, Rob Charsley, reports that 18% of children in Cheltenham and 17% of Gloucester children experience very low food security. Food banks in the area, including Radstock Food Club in Somerset, are also seeing increased demand for services, with over 100 families now receiving food from Radstock alone. The charities suggest that financial pressures and food poverty are becoming more common, particularly during summer when parents struggle to provide healthy meals for their children.
Written by the local model on 2026-08-21,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
In Cheltenham, YMCA Cheltenham is hosting "family fun days" to provide free, healthy food to families struggling with the cost of living during the summer break. The charity has seen 67 children and their families attend an event in one week alone. In related news, Radstock Food Club in Somerset reported a surge in demand for its services, with over 100 families now receiving food from the facility, due to the increased cost of living. According to Rob Charsley, head of communities at YMCA Cheltenham, 18% of children in Cheltenham and 17% of Gloucester children experience very low food security. The charity's events aim to provide a positive distraction for families while also addressing food poverty.
Written for “Summer Food Poverty Crisis” on 2026-08-31,
grounded in this article and the 0 other(s) covering the same event.
Why this leaning score
The article's own words the score was based on. Each is quoted
verbatim and was checked against the article text before being
stored, so you can find it in the original.
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"It's great fun and really satisfying when you've managed to feed all those families as well."
left admiration for providing food to families in need
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"People can't afford your standard healthy food, which means people are eating quick, convenient food, which is no good for them,"
left criticism of unaffordable healthy food options
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"Being able to provide this for everybody really does make a big difference."
left emphasis on importance of providing food assistance
Leaning score -0.65 for article 682 (high confidence, 3 verified quotes) · logged 2026-08-27
- Published
With the school holidays in full swing, a charity is running 'family fun days' to help those struggling with the cost of food over the summer break.
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charity → publish → break
YMCA Cheltenham is hosting park-based events, which allow children to play outside and enjoy free, healthy food with their family.
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children → host → family
Rob Charsley, head of communities, health and wellbeing at the charity, said 67 children and their families had attended an event in one week alone.
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children → say → week
Meanwhile, in Somerset, Radstock Food Club said the increased cost of living had seen a rise in the number of people requiring their service, with more than 100 families now receiving food from the facility.
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families → say → facility
More from Gloucestershire
Charsley said 18% of children in Cheltenham and 17% of Gloucester children experience very low food security.
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% → say → security
"Summertime is a great and fun time for children, but it's also a difficult time for parents [dealing] with financial pressures and food poverty," he said.
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he → deal → pressures
"There can be real pressures for families to find those positive activities and be providing healthy food for children, and it all comes at a cost."
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it → find → cost
Charsley said the 'family fun day' events were proving "a real help for our community".
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events → say → community
"It's great fun and really satisfying when you've managed to feed all those families as well."
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you → manage → families
Atlanta, who attended the event with her two children, raised concerns about the quality and price of food.
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who → attend → food
"It just goes off really quickly," she said.
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she → go → ?
"It is quite difficult because it's so pricey to get all the healthy stuff, whereas the cheap stuff - the junk food - is just cheap, so it's easier to buy that."
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it → get → that
In Somerset, Sofia Perkins manages Radstock Food Club, which provides food from supermarkets and supplier-surplus to families and older people in need.
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which → manage → need
She said there "definitely" seems to be less stigma when it comes to food banks than previously.
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it → say → banks
"There's more people [going to food banks] - people are less worried about accessing it.
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people → be → it
"
But Perkins said the increased demand for food among families was concerning, claiming Radstock was "one of the lowest income places in the country".
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Radstock → say → country
"People can't afford your standard healthy food, which means people are eating quick, convenient food, which is no good for them," she said.
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she → afford → them
"Being able to provide this for everybody really does make a big difference."
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Being → provide → difference
