Thousands of Children Receive a Free Piece of Fruit

St John’s Shopping Centre, Perth gave out 2,215 pieces of fruit by the end of their free fruit for kid’s campaign, which ran for the duration of the school summer holidays.

The initiative allowed children to help themselves to a piece of fruit while they were in the Shopping Centre to provide them with one of their five a day while also encourage healthier snacking.

St John’s Shopping Centre has now revealed that tackling child holiday hunger was the main driving force behind the campaign. The centre did not initially promote the campaign as a means of tackling holiday hunger due to concerns that it would make people feel uncomfortable accepting the fruit.

Derek Martin, marketing manager at the centre, said: “The campaign was hugely successful, to the point where we could not keep up with the demand.

“When you consider that one in four children in Perth city centre is in poverty, there is a potential that 554 of these children were able to have a free, healthy snack whenever they passed through St John’s Shopping Centre.”

It is estimated that just over 25% of children in Perth City Centre alone are in poverty after housing costs.

Peter Barrett, the Liberal Democrat councillor for Perth City Centre said: “I think the fruit station was a great initiative.

“The St John’s Centre staff are to be praised for providing children with a healthy fresh fruit snack during the summer holidays.

“Putting the Fruit Station next to the Oor Wullie sculpture where children were naturally drawn and could then help themselves to a piece of fruit was a clever means of encouraging kids to eat an apple, pear or banana.”