A wide range of activities – which also provide a nutritious meal – are on offer for children and young people of all ages Isle of Wight during the summer holidays.
Grants totalling £213,305 have been awarded to local organisations, who will provide schemes for children and young people from low-income families during the school break.
Free places are available for children who receive benefits-related free school meals.
Places are also available for children and young people on Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCP), those open to social care, or with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).
Councillor Debbie Andre, Cabinet member for children’s services, said:
“The rising cost of living continues to affect everyone, but it is most keenly felt by families on low incomes.
“These challenges are typically heightened during the school holidays when finances are likely to be even more stretched.
“For our most vulnerable families, we know how important school is and that the school holidays, especially over such an extended period in summer, can often leave them feeling isolated and cut off from support.
Article continues below this advertisement “I am delighted that we have been able to fund so many places to ensure that these children and their families do not go hungry or without the crucial support they need.
“Thank you to every one of our providers for getting on board and helping us to offer so many different opportunities for Island families across the Island, thus making them more accessible to all.”
The following organisations are offering activities and parents and carers wishing to find out more should contact the provider directly:
Aspire Ryde
Activity: Children’s play session and healthy meal in the Kingdom play activity centre.
Contact: [email protected] or phone (01983) 716020.
Brading Community Partnership
Activity: Activities for eight to 18 year olds, ranging from music and theatre workshops to arts and crafts at Brading Youth and Community Centre.
Contact: [email protected]
CM Sports, Newport, Ryde and East Cowes
Activity: Sports coaching and arts and crafts activities for eligible children aged five to 11 in Newport (Barton Primary and Nine Acres primary schools), Ryde (Oakfield Primary School) and East Cowes (Queensgate Primary School).
Contact: 02392 987881 or email www.cm-sports.co.uk
Island Riding Centre, Newport
Activity: Riding sessions with a healthy lunch provided for ages six to 14.
Contact: : (01983) 214000 or email [email protected]
Scalllywags, Broadlea Primary School
Activity: Scallywags Holiday Fun Club are offering spaces for ages three to 18 years old.
Contact: [email protected]
Theatre Educational, Ryde
Activity: A range of professional, experienced community arts tutors who will provide arts and theatre themed activity for seven to 16 year olds at Oakfield Primary School, Ryde.
Contact: www.theatreeducational.co.uk
UKSA, Cowes
Activity: A wide range of fun activities including paddle-boarding and dinghy sailing, kayaking and keelboating.
Contact: www.uksa.org
YMCA
Activity: YMCA are offering places at its day camps throughout the summer holidays for children aged up to 12 years old.
Contact: [email protected] or call (01983) 862441 (option 4).
Funding for the programme comes from the Department for Education and was set up so that local authorities could offer healthy food and enriching activities in the school holidays to children in receipt of benefits-related free school meals.
It also forms part of the council’s connect4communities programme, details of which are available here: www.hants.gov.uk/connect4communities
The cynic in me would say in regards to: These challenges are typically heightened during the school holidays when finances are likely to be even more stretched.” Yup, the parents on the dole must find it REALLY annoying that the kids are under their feet; at home; requiring feeding and GOD FORBID, want to watch the TV. Oh my, how tiresome!! But hooray, all is not lost – panic over – kids DON’T have to be looked after; fed; entertained because guess what – WOO HOO – there is still someone else to do it. Panic over parent/s – you can still lie in; get drunk/high; play on your latest phone; make that important tattoo appt etc
“For our most vulnerable families’…
Excuse me Councillor Andre!
what about those Parents/Families who actually go out to WORK and are struggling to make ends meet?
all very fine and good that those on benefits keep getting more and more hand-outs, but those people who are ACTUALLY working to support their families are getting NOTHING!
Only very few of these children are really in need ,most wouldn’t be if selfish benefit fraudulent claiming parents looked after their kids. We all see hard working parents struggling in the holidays due to child care costs and they get nothing, yet lazy parents at home get free child care ! Why?. Any on benefits who have latest phones,branded designer clothes ,drug habits and take holidays abroad should have benefits reduced and given to working families, there are. so many jobs out there for people -get one. About time there was a charity set up to help working parents and children.
Logic would suggest that the people who need free or heavily subsidised childcare are the ones that work, not the ones who don’t but clearly I am mistaken.
I would love to own a horse but can’t afford it, yet those who SAY they can’t afford kids, still bang them out time and time again, knowing if they whinge soft weak suckers will pay for their night of fun, and provide a free house for the next useless generation to continue sponging.
Good grief I’m shocked by these nasty comments?!
wow! just wow! at all these nasty negative comments. It makes me want to keep myself to myself even more. just another reminder of the broken down community here and the sharp tongue of narrow minded human beings. Honestly feel very sad and sorry for some of the things people have written here. And to anyone needing help and support in these troubled time, on benefits or working hard to keep the job you are lucky enough to have. Its ok to need help. Its ok to accept support . It doesnt make you inferior or a bad person. Just keep your chin up and keep going.