£900,000 grant gives holiday programme for children

A £900,000 grant will enable a council and its partners to deliver a “healthy holidays” programme of meals and activities to the borough’s most disadvantaged children this summer.

Calderdale Council has been awarded more than £926,000 from the Department of Education to deliver the programme, with partner the Community Foundation for Calderdale (CFFC) running a grants programme which community organisations, schools and childcare providers are invited to apply for a share of.

The scheme aims to provide a variety of activities and healthy meals during the school holidays for pupils who are eligible for free school meals, from Monday, August 9, to Friday, September 3.

It follows on from the activity parcels and healthy recipes which the council provided to lower-income families during the Easter holidays, which itself built on the Calderdale-wide Never Hungry Again campaign to fight child hunger.

The Never Hungry Again campaign was begun by the council and partner organisations last autumn following Manchester United and England international footballer Marcus Rashford’s high profile drive for free school meals beyond term times.

Leader of the Council, Coun Tim Swift said for some families who are struggling financially the long summer holidays can be an anxious time.

“Alongside the Healthy Holidays programme, we are working with partner organisations across Calderdale through the Never Hungry Again campaign to do everything we can to offer support to the families who need it most.

“The welcome £926,000 funding boost means we can continue our Healthy Holidays programme throughout the school holidays.”