The Isle of Wight Council has been awarded £407,660 to fund local organisations to provide free activities and a healthy meal to disadvantaged children during the Easter break (2nd April to 16th April).
Councillor Paul Brading, Cabinet member for children’s services, education and skills, has said he is pleased the authority can support so many local organisations working hard to make a difference to children during the Easter holiday.
Councillor Brading has said:
“School holidays can be particularly difficult for families because of increased costs, such as food and childcare, and reduced incomes – especially during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“For some children, that can lead to a holiday experience gap. Children from disadvantaged families are less likely to access organised out-of-school activities and therefore miss out on the health benefits and social connections.
“However, by creating opportunities for children to take part in free holiday clubs where a nutritious meal is provided, we can address this issue.”
The aim of the government’s Holiday Activity Fund programme is to make free places available to eligible children for the equivalent of at least 4 hours a day, 4 days a week and for 6 weeks a year.
This would cover 4 weeks in the summer and a week’s worth of provision in each of the Easter and Christmas holidays in 2021. Organisations can also offer additional places to fee paying families.
The council will be seeking applications for the summer holiday (26th July to 1st September 2021) in the coming months and again, later in the year, for Christmas. Organisations should go to the connect4communities.org website for details as well as application forms and guidance.
Councillor Brading adds:
“I look forward to receiving details about the next round of schemes planned over the summer.
“I also urge local organisations to apply for a grant because these activities are incredibly worthwhile and make a huge difference to the lives of Island children.”
Further details of the activities on offer will be made available shortly.
Here we go again, when will you learn the more you give these people the more they take.
Even rodents look after their young better than these parasites.
Since when has sponging become disadvantaged. They have more than working families and don’t share any of the costs or price increases the tax payer has to.
Totally agree , yes it’s unfortunate of their personal circumstances but;
Theres hard working families out there pay their taxes including the council tax rises every single year etc etc who like mentioned above who don’t have anything for free so why can’t everybody / child irrespective of ability or circumstances benefit from the funding
It’s called equality
and sure that 99% of these so called disadvantaged children will grow up to have plenty more so called disadvantaged children, wonder what they’ll be given free by then. Was going to say free Lap tops but then remembered they already have. Maybe mobiles, bikes and Netflix’s because why should they not have the same as ones with parents who worked hard, studied, planned and generally a bit of nous about them.