Tesco is offering extra support to children during the school holidays and their families who are facing food insecurity over the summer.

This move comes as a response to the need to support children who would normally receive free school meals during the term time.

Running from the beginning of July to August, Tesco will stock its pre-filled food donation bags in all large stores across Scotland, Northern Ireland and England.

The bags contain healthy food essentials, which can be retrieved in store and paid for at the checkout and cost between £2 and £4.

Tesco will donate the items through Felix and Trusell, who will distribute them to charities and food banks to help families who are in need across the UK.

This move is part of the supermarket’s commitment to support kids over the summer school holidays, in addition to Tesco’s free fruit & veg for school programme which supports over 500 schools across the UK during term time.

Subscribe to Grocery Gazette for free

Sign up here to get the latest grocery and food news each morning

Additionally, from 3 to 9 August, shoppers will have the opportunity to donate to Felix and Trusell to round up their bill at the checkout to the nearest pound.

Online shoppers will also be able to make a donation through the retailer’s website on an online giving link on the grocery home shopping website during checkout.

Christine Heffernan, chief communications and sustainability officer at Tesco said: “We want to be able to support our charity partners to help those needing a little extra support this summer. Our partnerships with Felix and Trussell are central to this aim.

“When you’re out doing your weekly shop this summer, dropping a few tins into a food collection point, picking up a food donation bag in our stores or rounding up our grocery bill, you can make a difference to the lives of thousands of children in communities across the UK.”