During June and July 2024 EA staff in schools and services once again endorsed and supported the EA Summer Family Food Appeal.

This appeal enabled all EA staff to give back within the local community, aiming to support the fantastic work of our local food banks.

Items were collected within the Armagh Office, Belfast Office, Omagh Office, Ballee Office, Dundonald Office, North West Teachers Centre, Antrim Board Centre, Dungannon Teachers Centre and Silverwood Centre. The donated items weighed a total of:

420.80kg which equates to 988 meals for families within our communities.

“We are so grateful for everything; the donations included our much needed items. We hope your staff will continue to support us; it is hugely appreciated.”

Carol Izzard, Dundonald Foodbank Co-ordinator

We are also pleased to disclose that as a result of the ongoing work the Education Authority has been undertaken over the last four years, we have been recognised as a frontline organisation and can utilise this to support EA Staff that may be in need. We are now considered as a Referral Agency for The Trussell Trust Food Banks across NI.

This enables us to provide an e-referral voucher for a minimum of three days’ emergency food which can be collected from any local Trussell Trust food bank, this continues to be the primary way for people to be referred to receive help with emergency food parcels.

If you have any comments in relation to this appeal or to get in touch regarding the referral process please email healthandwellbeing@eani.org.uk