THE issue of 'holiday hunger' among children is to be addressed in an area of Burnley.

Participation Works North West has been awarded grant funding from Gannow Big Local to set up and deliver a youth café in Gannow.

Gannow Big Local is a community group that was awarded £1million National Lottery funding to make improvements in the area.

'Holiday hunger' has been identified as a prominent issue in the Gannow community.

The steering group has been receiving expressions of interest and tenders for a youth café to tackle the issue in Gannow.

Shaun Dodds, from Burnley Pendle and Rossendale Council for Voluntary Service, who are partners in the project, said: "Sadly many children and young people are missing out on healthy, fulfilling meals outside of the school term.

"The expense of feeding a family presents a great deal of trouble for parents.

"Often many parents have to rely on low cost, unhealthy food or sometimes even food banks to feed their families.

"In worst case scenarios parents regularly miss meals themselves during the school holidays otherwise they wouldn’t be able to provide a meal for their children.

"The health and wellbeing of families is at risk and something needed to be done."

The Youth Café project was the idea of the Gannow Big Local Steering Group and was included in its three year plan.

It came from feedback, ideas and suggestions from residents, agencies and organisations in the Gannow Big Local area.

The youth café will run during each school holiday from Easter to Christmas.

Eileen Thompson, chair of Gannow Big Local, said: "We had lots of interest in setting up a youth café for the young people of Gannow.

"A couple of the reasons Participation Works North West were successful in their bid was that they included lots of partnership working and are very experienced in youth work.

"They know the area well and worked with some young people in Gannow during the summer holidays of 2016.

"It is hoped the Youth Café will make a huge difference to the young people of our area, helping to tackle holiday hunger whilst giving the young people something to do."

Lynne Blackburn, director of Participation Works North West, said: "We have worked in Gannow and are very aware of some of the issues faced by young people, especially during school holidays.

"Thanks to Gannow Big Local for giving us this opportunity to help."

The youth café will run during each school holiday from Easter to Christmas.