Children and young people across Bradford district who receive benefits-related free school meals are being offered access to free holiday clubs this summer.
Thousands of eligible primary and secondary school-age pupils will get the chance to access fun activities and healthy meals as part of the Summer of Fun programme being organised by Bradford Council.
The council is working with schools, voluntary and community organisations to put on clubs for eligible children at sites across the district.
Sessions will include activities such as art, sport, drama, craft, music and gardening and there is specific provision for those with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) and other additional needs. Every child will also receive a nutritious meal as part of the session.
Councillor Imran Khan, Bradford Council’s portfolio holder for education, employment and skills, said: “After such a tough year we are delighted to be able to offer this support to families during the school holidays.
“As Marcus Rashford has highlighted so well, school holidays can be a real struggle for many low-income families. We want all children and young people in our district to enjoy their school holidays. We are excited to be working with 87 providers across the length and breadth of Bradford District to deliver a range of fun, exciting holiday club experiences.
“The free school meal children and young people attending will get the chance to learn new skills, be active, socialise with friends, and enjoy nutritious food in a safe environment.”
Bradford Council was allocated £2.8m by the government to provide activities and food for children on free school meals during the Easter, summer, and Christmas holidays in 2021.
Information about the clubs is being shared with eligible families via schools.
If your child is on free school meals but your school is not on the list, you can access other free activities across the district through the Summer Unlocked programme. This is open to all children and families not just those on free school meals.
Summer Unlocked is a family-friendly programme of free cultural and sporting events and activities taking place across the Bradford District throughout the school holidays.
The Summer Unlocked programme includes live theatre, music, film and much more, with acrobatic displays on the canals, poetry in car parks and vibrant street-art, all set to unlock imaginations across the district this summer. Families can also look forward to getting out and active with activities such as climbing towers, dance and den building.
In addition to these programmes, families who are eligible for Universal Credit may be able to claim back up to 85% of their childcare costs.
More information on the Summer of Fun, funded by the Department for Education, can be found here and information on Summer Unlocked here.
Feature image credit: Anna Earl via Unsplash.
