Quadrupled funding for free meals and activities over summer holidays

Free meals and activities over the summer holidays will be available for disadvantaged children, made possible with £9.1 million from the Department for Education.

The scheme follows a successful £2 million programme in the summer of 2018, which saw charities and community groups provide meals and activities such as football, play sessions and cooking classes for more than 18,000 children across the country.

The funding has more than quadrupled for the summer of 2019 so that even more disadvantaged children can benefit.

Nadhim Zahawi, Minister for Children and Families, said: "School holidays should be a chance for children to have fun experiences and make lasting memories – and no child should miss out on that. That’s why we have quadrupled funding for free summer holiday clubs this year, with the aim of reaching around 50,000 of the most disadvantaged children across the country.

"Yes, these clubs will ensure children get a nutritious meal – but they will also offer the chance to socialise with friends and take part in activities such as sports and healthy cooking classes, to keep pupils active and involved in their communities throughout the six-week break from school."

The 2019 programme will help the Department for Education continue to research how it can best support children eligible for free school meals during the holidays, testing a new model in which local co-ordinators oversee and fund clubs in their areas.

The co-ordination role will be undertaken by a wide range of organisations, including a school, local authorities, community foundations and charities, all working with a range of local providers to ensure the clubs reach the children who need them most.

Activities on offer this year will include a range of sports, healthy cooking classes for children and their parents or carers, as well as targeted support for the most vulnerable families who may already be working with social services.

The 11 co-ordinators receiving a share of the £9.1 million are:

•     StreetGames (Newcastle, North East region)
•     Edsential (Chester and Cheshire West, North West region)
•     Transforming Lives for Good (Bradford, Yorkshire & the Humber region)
•     Happy Healthy Holidays consortium (Birmingham, West Midlands region)
•     Barnardo’s (Leicestershire, East Midlands region)
•     Suffolk County Council (East of England region)
•     Family Action (Croydon, London region)
•     The Romsey School (Hampshire, South East region)
•     Plymouth County Council (South West region)
•     Gateshead Council (North East region)
•     Leeds Community Foundation (Yorkshire & the Humber region)