Around 5,000 children across Leeds will access nutritious food and fun activities thanks to an initiative run by Leeds City Council and Leeds Community Foundation this summer.
The Healthy Holidays programme, now in its seventh year, provides fun activities and nutritious food for children whose families may struggle during the school holidays. Those taking part will be able to choose from 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 8 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.
While many families have now signed up, 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/.
More information can be found on Leeds City Council’s website: www.leeds.gov.uk/children-and-families/healthy-holidays and general enquiries can be made to leedshealthyholidays@leedscf.org.uk
and HHBooking@leeds.gov.uk.
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.
“We’re proud to continue our partnership with Leeds City Council to deliver Healthy Holidays once again. Our partnership has been ongoing for several years now and in that time has collectively supported thousands of families. The success of Healthy Holidays over the years has only been possible because of all partners involved who are passionate about building a long-lasting positive impact across our communities and creating a fairer Leeds.
“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."
Councillor Mary Harland, Leeds City Council’s executive member for communities, customer service and community safety, said: “We’re proud to be once again working with our partners to help ensure families across Leeds have access to that crucial bit of extra help over the summer holidays that can make all the difference.
“No parent or family should ever have to be anxious about providing for their children, and over the years this amazing project has seen individuals and organisations across the city pull together to ensure children have access to healthy nutritious food and a programme of activities every school holiday.
“At its heart, Healthy Holidays is about the people and communities of Leeds working together to help those who need it most, and that encapsulates what this city is all about.”
