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Council Supports Food And Activity Schemes This Christmas

Enriching experiences and lunch are available throughout the Christmas holidays for the children and young people of families receiving income-related free school meals.

Funded by the Department for Education, the Christmas Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) Programme enables local authorities to coordinate free holiday scheme access locally.

The programme will be delivered on the Island by eight approved holiday scheme providers and is co-ordinated by the Isle of Wight Council. 

Full details of the free activities on offer can be found here: Events (iow.gov.uk)

All participating holiday schemes will offer a nutritious meal and a variety of fun, enriching experiences such as sports, games, cooking and play opportunities.

Councillor Debbie Andre, Cabinet Member for Children's Services, said:

"I wish to say a huge thank you to all of the providers who have worked with us to support families by arranging fun and exciting activities for children and young people and also providing them with a nutritious meal.

"It is great to see both the continued support of our existing providers as well as several new providers who are joining the programme for the first time.

"The HAF programme continues to be a real success in providing a range of quality activities for children and young people who might not otherwise have had the chance to attend a holiday club or an activity day."

The aim of the scheme is to make free places available to eligible children for the equivalent of at least four hours a day, four days a week and for six weeks a year.

For more information about the Holiday Activity Fund, click here.

A film produced during the summer HAF is also available to view on the council's YouTube channel here: https://youtu.be/Tg7rivKhJRQ

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