Over 2,200 west Cheshire children to enjoy free activities and food this spring
The Holiday Activities and Food programme will run between 4 April and 15 April across west Cheshire.
During the spring school holidays, over 2,200 children will be supported by the Holiday Activities and Food programme, coordinated by Edsential on behalf of Cheshire West and Chester Council.
Across the borough, children and young people in receipt of free school meals will be able to enjoy a range of enriching activities and delicious lunches from one of the 49 free activity clubs available.
Thanks to funding from the Department for Education, 25 west Cheshire providers will be offering a whole host of physical, mental & educational activity sessions. Children and young people will enjoy nutritious lunch and snacks, in between taking part in activities such as swimming, forest school, well-being sessions, days trips and much more.
GGO community group Winsford, which has been part of the programme for 3 years, are gearing up to support even more young people and their families in the April school holidays.
GGO community group has said:
Without Edsential's Holiday Activity and Food programme so many children would remain isolated. We are really looking forward to being a part of the spring programme and welcoming children to our club where they will enjoy exciting activities and delicious lunches.
Edsential were one of eleven chosen organisations who coordinated the Holiday Activity pilot programme in 2019. Since the Department for Education announced funding nationally in 2020, Edsential have continued to support children and young people across the borough on behalf of Cheshire West and Chester Council.
Bethan Cooper, Holiday Activity Fund Manager at Edsential said:
We are so pleased to be working with 25 amazing voluntary, community, and faith-based organisations this spring. Children and teenagers will be sure to have a memorable experience participating in engaging and enriching activities that support the development, resilience, character, and well-being of all young people.
Following the success of the programme, the Department for Education has confirmed that funding will continue to be available to all councils until 2025.
Councillor Robert Cernik, Cabinet Member for Children and Families said:
The holiday activity clubs that are funded through the Holiday Activity Fund (HAF) scheme ensure that children and young people have the opportunity to enjoy and learn new skills over the school holidays and access tasty, nutritious meals, whilst making new friends and most importantly having fun. I am delighted with the success our programme has had so far, it really shows that successful partnership working can ensure invaluable support for our families in the borough who need it the most.
The Holiday Activities and Food programme will run between 4 April and 15 April across west Cheshire.
To book your space and to find a full list of the spring holiday activity clubs visit: www.edsential.com/HAF2022/.