WIRRAL'S state-of-the-art youth zone, The Hive has received financial support from Medicash to offer free meals across the school holidays.

The grant from Medicash Charitable Trust has been awarded to The Hive as part of the 'Feeding Birkenhead' project championed by MP Frank Field.

The project is a coalition of community groups, churches and other organisations working together to eliminate hunger in Birkenhead.

A lot of the food supplied to the project has been sourced by Rock Ferry based 'Neo Community' which takes surplus food from supermarkets.

Mr Field, chairman of Liverpool-based Medicash and a trustee of its Charitable Trust said: "Medicash is proud to make this major contribution to the goal of making sure no child in the town goes hungry in the school holidays.

"The national fight back against hunger began here in Birkenhead and we are encouraging other companies around the country to follow Medicash’s lead."

Free entry vouchers and memberships will also be given out enabling young people to access the full range of facilities at the Youth Zone, including an indoor climbing wall, fitness suite, fully equipped hair and well-being salon, a 4G football pitch, four-court sports hall, skate park, music room, media room, arts and crafts areas, dance studio and even a boxing gym and recording studio.

Head of youth work Adam Mellor said: "We are proud to be part of the Feeding Birkenhead initiative.

"To be able to provide access to free meals and engaging activities to vulnerable young people is at the core of our Youth Zone values.

"We are grateful to Medicash for funding such a valuable project at The Hive."

The Hive is open seven days a week, all year round including School Holidays and Bank Holidays and costs just £5 annual membership and 50p per session.

Holiday clubs run across the year when schools are closed and offer an affordable childcare provision opening from 8am to 6pm for £10 and includes breakfast and lunch.

The ‘School Holiday Meals and Fun’ project will start at The Hive for the half term holiday club on Monday, October 23 to Friday, October 27 and will then be rolled out across subsequent school holiday periods.

For more information about free places and meals please contact Adam Mellor at adam.mellor@thehiveyouthzone.org