Families have praised the “supportive and friendly” team behind Bolton Council’s Holiday Activities and Food programme, as thousands of free sessions have been delivered in just the first three weeks.
The scheme provides nutritious meals and rewarding activities during the school holidays, helping families who might otherwise struggle with the extra cost of food and childcare.
It offers a wide range of activities and is delivered with the support of a network of charities and volunteer groups.
So far, more than 8,500 sessions have been delivered with young people enjoying everything from cooking lessons to skateparks.
Feedback from families shows the positive impact the scheme is having:
- “Excellent initiative, friendly staff, great environment and promoting physical health.”
- “Every year we attend the play bus as my children love it! We are so lucky to have this provision in Bolton."
- “Very good for kids for their physical and mental health. They enjoy games and meals too. Staff are very supportive and friendly"
- “Children are always made to feel welcome and involved. The sessions are well organised.”
- “It says a lot when the kids come to one want to follow the van to the next, and then do youth club in the evening.”
Activities are offered right across the borough ensuring families are able to access the activities on offer without having to travel too far.
Westhoughton North and Chew Moor councillor, Bernadette Eckersley Fallon said:
“I visited one of the HAF events at Central Park in Westhoughton last Monday.
“It was a cookery class which was extremely well attended with over 250 children learning together with their parents.
“It was lovely to hear everyone having fun in the sunshine whilst learning important skills.”
Bolton Council’s Executive Cabinet Member for Children’s Services, Cllr Anne Galloway, said:
“I have been so pleased to visit some of the sessions to see first-hand what a positive impact the Holiday Activities and Food programme is having on children in our borough.
“After the past 18 months of lockdown and the disruption caused by class bubbles closing, the programme has proved a real benefit to children during the long holidays to keep them stimulated with activities and allows them to socialise with their age group.
“The feedback from both families and local ward councillors has been excellent and is testament to the hard work of staff and our partners in the community sector.
“With a week of activities still to come I urge everyone to visit the website and take advantage of this wonderful opportunity for children to make friends, learn new skills and eat healthily.”
This summer, most sessions will run for four hours a day, four days a week for four weeks from July 26 to August 28.
Sessions are open to everyone with priority given to those children on free school meals.
Activities are entirely optional, and all eligible families can still receive free lunches from one of Urban Outreach’s BL Lunches pick up points whether or not they choose to take part.
For more information, visit the HAF page of the council website.
The programme has been funded with £1,487,820 from the government’s Holiday Activities and Food Programme which is being used over the Easter, Summer and Christmas breaks in 2021.