Children in West Leeds will have access to nutritious food and fun activities this summer thanks to a city-wide initiative to support struggling families.
The Healthy Holidays programme, now in its seventh year, provides physical activities including football and dance, as well as creative and life skills to support their mental wellbeing.
Funded by the Department for Education’s Holiday Activities and Food programme, there will be over 90 different projects across the city throughout the six-week school holiday, including 43 community organisation projects, 40 school schemes, and eight council provisions.
Each project delivers at least one hour of physical activity a day, offering food and nutrition education for families to fine-tune skills and confidence to make affordable, healthy meals at home. Most children supported through Healthy Holidays are eligible for benefit-related free school meals.
Upcoming events in West Leeds include at Bramley Baths, Kirkstall Valley Development Trust, Armley Community Hub, St Joseph’s in Pudsey and others.
Steph Taylor, CEO at Leeds Community Foundation, said: “Healthy Holidays goes far beyond providing fun and food, this is about giving children the chance to try different things and make new friends with resulting short term and long term benefits for wider society.
“Sadly, the six-week school break is often a stressful time for parents who can’t access activities and healthy food ordinarily offered during term time; and that’s why programmes like this are vital.
“Looking beyond this summer, we and many partners across the country making use of this funding, hope to see a commitment from the Government to continue to support these fundamental programmes for children and their families.”
There are still places available with community organisations, schools and council provisions. You can find out more, confirm eligibility and book places at https://healthyholidays.leeds.gov.uk/. General enquiries can be made to leedshealthyholidays@leedscf.org.uk and HHBooking@leeds.gov.uk.
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