Council thanks community groups for summer holiday fun days

The providers of free holiday clubs have been thanked for arranging close to 25,000 activity places for children over the summer.

Over the past five weeks a total of 59 community groups put on the sessions at 79 different venues across Nottingham, with Nottingham Forest Community Trust taking on the role of Lead Provider.

The City Council secured £1.8m from the Government’s Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) programme, which was used to provide clubs for the 17,800 city pupils eligible for free school meals (FSM).

FSM pupils received a free lunch, alongside a programme of activities focused on healthy eating, fitness and mental health.

The Council also used funding from the Government’s Household Support Fund to provide the parents or carers of every FSM pupil with a £50 supermarket voucher at the start of the summer holidays.

Councillor Cheryl Barnard, Portfolio Holder for Children, Young People and Schools at Nottingham City Council, said: “It’s fantastic to hear that our free activity clubs have been accessed this summer almost 25,000 times and I’d like to say a huge thank you to all the local groups and organisations that hosted events, as well as to Nottingham Forest Community Trust for their role as Lead Provider.

“It’s also important to recognise Tramlink’s fantastic gesture after they provided free tram travel for children who were struggling to get to the sessions.

“We know that the cost-of-living crisis is making it extremely hard for families at the moment, so I’m delighted we’ve been able to support them with the cost of food this summer. No child should have to go hungry just because schools are closed.

“The holiday clubs have provided fun and enriching activities for Nottingham’s children, as well as ensuring they’ve gone home with full tummies. I really hope that the Government will continue to make this funding available to us to help struggling families during the holidays. In a deprived city like Nottingham, it is vitally important.”

The clubs will run again in October half-term and at Christmas. Parents looking to book places can subscribe to a council newsletter to hear when bookings open.  

Every month newsletter subscribers will also get information about the availability of food vouchers, advice on debt and benefits, reducing household bills, employment and job-hunting support, including training courses.

Subscribe to the newsletter at https://bit.ly/2UinA0Q

Graham Moran BEM, Chief Executive Officer of Nottingham Forest Community Trust, said: “The feedback we’ve received from children and parents has been incredible. The positive impact we have been able to give thousands of families across Nottingham reiterates our purpose and the reason we exist.

“Yet again, we’ve seen incredible numbers across the city, welcoming more than 12,000 children to our sessions and serving more than 30,000 hot meals and 22,000 sandwiches!

“We are already in the planning stages for the next Free Fun & Food holiday club scheduled for October and we can’t wait to welcome children back.

“I want to take this opportunity to thank Nottingham City Council and all of our partners, providers and organisations who supported us in the delivery of this programme.”

Here is the full list of providers we would like to thank!