Holiday clubs set to welcome thousands of local young people this summer
With the school holidays just around the corner, thousands of local young people can look forward to an action-packed summer break with the return of the Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) Programme.
A network of 80 holiday clubs across Wirral are offering a wide range of activities to keep children and young people active, engaged, and well-fed over the summer break.
Councillor Chris Carubia, Vice-Chair of Wirral Council’s Children, Young People and Education Committee, said:
We all remember looking forward to breaking up for the long summer holiday, but the novelty soon wore off after a few weeks if you weren’t kept occupied. Which is why the holiday programme - and its fantastic range of activities - is so well received by young people, who return time and time again.
This year, several new clubs will be joining the programme for the first time, which means even more activities to try out and enjoy. As well as an ever-popular range of sports, including football, swimming, roller skating, and skateboarding, there are lots of arts and crafts sessions, cooking classes, fun science, digital wizards, photography, and author visits.
Older children can also try their hand at hair and beauty, with one club offering a special behind-the-scenes trip to the Lush Spa in Liverpool – their largest store in the world – to learn more about the industry.
The programme is coordinated for Wirral Council by the Community Interest Company, Edsential and funding for the scheme has been provided by the Department for Education.
The Easter holiday programme saw more than 3,300 local young people and their families benefitting from the enriching activities and the nutritious daily meals provided, with parents complementing the lovely staff’ and how they were ‘brilliant with kids’.
Heather Lewis, the Programme Manager for HAF, expressed her excitement, stating:
The HAF programme is thrilled to offer an exhilarating array of activities this summer for children and young people in Wirral. Our aim is to provide a safe, enjoyable, and inclusive environment for them to explore, learn, and forge new friendships. We're proud to be part of an initiative that empowers children and young people to thrive and reach their full potential.
The HAF programme is set to provide an unforgettable summer for young people aged 5 to 16 years old in receipt of free school meals. For more information the programme, including how to find and apply for a place, visit the Edsential website.
Parents and carers are encouraged to check if their child is eligible for free school meals as it could enable them to take part in this and future holiday programmes and unlock a range of other support. More information about free school meals is posted on the Wirral Council website.
About Edsential:
Edsential is a community interest company dedicated to enriching the lives of children and young people through innovative educational initiatives. By collaborating with schools, local authorities, and communities, Edsential strives to create inclusive and empowering learning environments where every child can flourish. Through programmes like HAF, Edsential is committed to nurturing the development of young minds and fostering a brighter future for all. Visit Edsential.com to learn more.
You can also follow Edsential’s summer activity programme on their Facebook and Twitter channels.
