TWO academies in north Essex will benefit from a unique project to combat hunger.

REAch2 Academy Trust has unveiled a pioneering new approach to prevent children feeling hungry.

Working with appliance manufacturer Amica, the academy trust is making Community Fridges which will be stocked with food for families to access.

The Community Fridges will be regularly replenished with food from REAch2’s catering department, and will be freely available to families.

The fridges will be discreetly placed to avoid any stigma and will allow the schools to reduce their unnecessary waste as well as providing good quality food to the children who urgently need it.

Unity Primary Academy in Colchester and Sir Martin Frobisher Primary Academy in Clacton will benefit from the scheme.

The Community Fridges are being piloted in five of REAch2’s academies in the east of England. If the pilot is successful, the programme will be rolled out across the rest of REAch2’s family of schools.

Cathie Paine, deputy chief executive of REAch2, said: “We often hear about children going to school hungry because their families simply cannot afford to provide them with the food that they would want to.

“To think this is happening in 2019 is heartbreaking.

“Every week school kitchens have to discard food due to best before dates, limited use by dates or simply because it is the weekend.

“This is food that, if it were within a family home, would be perfectly fine to use for family meals.

“We’re excited to be working with Amica to help tackle family hunger and look forward to seeing the impact of our Community Fridges.” to the five communities they are supporting.”