Free Summer activities extended to families in financial hardship

A free programme of summer activities is again being extended to those families in financial hardship.

One in five pupils (20 per cent) in Suffolk were eligible for free school meals in 2021/22 compared to 12 per cent in 2015/16.

Following a national campaign by footballer Marcus Rashford and backed by the Labour Party to ensure pupils could get food during the school summer holidays, the Government’s Department for Educations rolled out the £220m national Holiday Activities and Food Programme.

That programme is being co-ordinated locally by West Suffolk Council on behalf of Suffolk County Council and delivered through a wide range of partners across West Suffolk.

The programme has  now opened for families across West Suffolk to book places during the six week’s school holidays.

Under the Government guidelines the programme is predominately aimed at pupils who are eligible for benefits related free school meals. The council is allowed, as it has done in the past, to use 15 per cent of the funding to open the scheme up to children and young people from families who are in financial hardship. This will be provided on a first come first served basis.

“Many people have been pushed into poverty by the cost-of-living crisis and we want to see more done by the government to get to the causes of poverty and inequality so that everyone has the same chances and opportunities in life,” said Donna Higgins, cabinet member for Families and Communities at West Suffolk Council.

“In the meantime, we will be doing all we can to help our residents through this crisis, both through encouraging take up of the Holiday and Activities programme, putting pressure on the government, and through backing vital community support with funding wherever we can.”

The HAF summer programme in West Suffolk includes 5,324 places over 656 sessions. Activities include park cooking, film making, football, craft making, roller skating, gardening, singing, dancing, Nerf wars, tennis, gymnastics, archery and more.

Families with children on benefits related free school meals should have already received information through their school about HAF in their area.

Those in financial hardship can find out more about activities in their area and how to apply for a place or places at https://www.westsuffolk.gov.uk/leisure/holiday-events.cfm

For more on cost-of-living advice and support in West Suffolk visit www.westsuffolk.gov.uk/cost-of-living