A wide range of activities which also provide a nutritious meal are on offer for all ages during the summer holidays.
Grants totalling £213,305 have been awarded to local organisations who will provide schemes for children and young people from low-income families during the school break.
Free places are available for children who receive benefits-related free school meals.
Places are also available for children and young people on Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCP), those open to social care, or with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).
Andre: Delighted that we have been able to fund so many places
Cllr Debbie Andre, Cabinet member for children’s services, said,
“The rising cost of living continues to affect everyone, but it is most keenly felt by families on low incomes.
“These challenges are typically heightened during the school holidays when finances are likely to be even more stretched.
“For our most vulnerable families, we know how important school is and that the school holidays, especially over such an extended period in summer, can often leave them feeling isolated and cut off from support.
“I am delighted that we have been able to fund so many places to ensure that these children and their families do not go hungry or without the crucial support they need.
“Thank you to every one of our providers for getting on board and helping us to offer so many different opportunities for Island families across the Island, thus making them more accessible to all.”
The following organisations are offering activities and parents and carers wishing to find out more should contact the provider directly:
Aspire Ryde
Activity: Children’s play session and healthy meal in the Kingdom play activity centre.
Contact: [email protected] or phone (01983) 716020.
Brading Community Partnership
Activity: Activities for eight to 18 year olds, ranging from music and theatre workshops to arts and crafts at Brading Youth and Community Centre.
Contact: [email protected]
CM Sports, Newport, Ryde and East Cowes
Activity: Sports coaching and arts and crafts activities for eligible children aged five to 11 in Newport (Barton Primary and Nine Acres primary schools), Ryde (Oakfield Primary School) and East Cowes (Queensgate Primary School).
Contact: 02392 987881 or email www.cm-sports.co.uk
Island Riding Centre, Newport
Activity: Riding sessions with a healthy lunch provided for ages six to 14.
Contact: : (01983) 214000 or email [email protected]
Scalllywags, Broadlea Primary School
Activity: Scallywags Holiday Fun Club are offering spaces for ages three to 18 years old.
Contact: [email protected]
Theatre Educational, Ryde
Activity: A range of professional, experienced community arts tutors who will provide arts and theatre themed activity for seven to 16 year olds at Oakfield Primary School, Ryde.
Contact: www.theatreeducational.co.uk
UKSA, Cowes
Activity: A wide range of fun activities including paddle-boarding and dinghy sailing, kayaking and keelboating.
Contact: www.uksa.org
YMCA
Activity: YMCA are offering places at its day camps throughout the summer holidays for children aged up to 12 years old.
Contact: [email protected] or call (01983) 862441 (option 4).
Funding for the programme comes from the Department for Education and was set up so that local authorities could offer healthy food and enriching activities in the school holidays to children in receipt of benefits-related free school meals.
Find out more
It also forms part of the council’s connect4communities programme, details of which are available on the Website.
News shared by Isle of Wight council press office, in their own words. Ed
Image: Artem Kniaz under CC BY 2.0
