Families who were in receipt of Free School Meals in the past school year (2021/22), are entitled to Summer Food Payment over the summer holidays. 
The second payment will be made into bank accounts on Monday 8 August. If we do not hold bank account details for you, a cheque will be sent in the post on Monday 8 August. 
Please be advised that families receiving the Summer Food Payment still need to apply for Free School Meal and Uniform Allowance for school year beginning in September 2022.
Sign up for these FREE nutrition webinars with Registered Dietitians throughout August! Open to everyone.
If the dates/times don’t suit or for other nutrition topics, pre-recorded webinars are available to watch on-demand at: Public Health Dietitians – YouTube
Healthy Eating During the Primary School Years – Tuesday 16th August @ 10am
Available at: https://tinyurl.com/healthyeating5-11-aug or https://northerntrust-hscni.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_5Ka0PL7UTjGvigbh16eIIw
Sustainable Diets – Tuesday 23rd August @ 12pm
Available at: https://tinyurl.com/sustainable-aug or https://westerntrust-hscni-net.zoom.us/j/91975031877
Public Health Dietitians YouTube channel is now live
Subscribe to “Public Health Dietitians” on YouTube at www.youtube.com/channel/UC_-f5E0ehqIR3z-cQdUvkCQ
Press Release
A new YouTube channel is set to bring the healthy eating and nutrition expertise of dietitians to the palms of the hands of people in Northern Ireland.
The ‘Public Health Dietitians’ channel is a partnership between the Public Health Dietitians Group (PHDG) Northern Ireland and the Public Health Agency (PHA) which is going live this Dietitians Week (June 20- 24).
The online outlet will host videos of all things nutrition, from healthy recipes to webinars with advice on nutrition for all stages of life. Dr Hannah Dearie, Senior Officer for Health and Social Wellbeing Improvement with PHA said:
“We are absolutely delighted to work with the PHDG across Northern Ireland on this new informative and easily accessible channel.
“The PHDG works to equip people to make better food and nutrition choices to improve their health. They support every life stage from babies to older people and everything in between; whether it’s providing top tips for introducing solids to your baby or offering more insight into how food can affect our mood and health.
“On the new channel you will be able to access free healthy recipe videos and nutrition webinars from Registered Nutritionists and Dietitians on topics from dealing with fussy eating, to weight management and eating well on a budget, to menopause and eating well as you age.”
Jill Stewart, Public Health Dietitian with the Northern Trust who is a member of the PHDG said that the innovative group have used social media and live nutrition webinars throughout the COVID-19 pandemic to reach the public in new ways.
A survey carried out by the group in September 2021 asked the public what nutrition topics interested them and webinars were subsequently developed on the most popular themes.
“We are really proud and excited to launch the Public Health Dietitians YouTube channel – we have worked hard to provide a top quality, reliable and accessible service, and we hope that the public will find it useful,” said Jill.
“There is so much information about nutrition available in the media and online – unfortunately a lot of it is not evidence based.
“Dietitians are qualified and regulated health professionals who use the most up-to-date public health and scientific research on food, health and disease to promote health and prevent nutrition-related diseases. The PHDG are passionate about providing the public with nutrition information they can trust.”
The new YouTube channel is free and available to access at any time. Subscribe to “Public Health Dietitians” on YouTube at www.youtube.com/channel/UC_-f5E0ehqIR3z-cQdUvkCQ
PHDG are a group of Registered Dietitians, Nutritionists and support staff who work across Health and Social Care (HSC) Trusts in Northern Ireland and are commissioned by the PHA.
Education Minister Michelle McIlveen has announced £12.6 million for a school holiday food grant this summer.
Read More education-ni.gov.uk/news/mcilveen-
Are you struggling with the cost of living increases? The Consumer Council are here to help.
They have created an information hub on their website to provide you with advice and support on a range of topics including your food shop, your home energy bills and your transport.
Visit their new Cost Of Living Hub 
Cost of Living | Consumer Council
