Free Easter activity programme available for young people in Torbay.
The Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) programme, known locally as Healthy Holiday returns this Easter, to ensure that children and young people in Torbay have access to food and fun activities over the school Easter break.
The successful programme which ran over the Easter, summer, and Christmas school holidays in 2021, offers eligible children and young people two weeks of fun activities in a safe environment.
Parents and carers whose primary and secondary school aged children are in receipt of benefits-related free school meals will be able to take advantage of the free activity programme.
Starting on Monday 11 April, the programme helps to alleviate social isolation and some of the parental financial stresses that school holidays can bring.
Sessions are taking place around Torbay at locations including Watcombe Primary School, the Acorn Centre and Torre Abbey in Torquay, Torbay Leisure Centre and Great Parks Community Centre in Paignton, and St Margret Clitherow Primary School and Brixham College in Brixham.
Activities on offer range from sports, storytelling, arts and crafts, nature walks and paddle-boarding. Specific provisions are available for children with SEND or additional needs, at no additional cost to parents or carers.
Made possible by Torbay Council sharing out almost £500,000 received as part of the national Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) programme. Over the Easter holiday period, 16 projects are set to run under the scheme by leading local providers, in partnership with other local-activity based organisations.
Last year, over 2,200 children and young people benefitted from the programme which also provides a healthy lunch.
Cllr Cordelia Law, Cabinet Member for Children’s Services, Torbay Council, said; “It is fantastic that we can once again run this successful programme for our most vulnerable families. At a time when the cost of living continues to rise and put more financial burden on families, this programme is designed to help families enjoy the school holidays without added financial stress.
“Many families told us last year about how much their children had enjoyed the activities and that their child had made new friends and grown in confidence. I’d encourage those that are eligible to book their spaces.”
The Healthy Holidays programme has been designed to help children and young people enjoy their school breaks in a safe environment. All activities are run by qualified staff and aim to have a positive effect on the young person’s health and well-being, as well as helping them to develop new skills.
Families whose children are in receipt of benefits-related free school meals that are interested in booking their children onto one of the sessions can do so by visiting https://www.torbay.gov.uk/event-list/
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