The Holiday Activity Fund (HAF), coordinated by Edsential on behalf Wirral Council, is set to support over 4,000 children and their families with free festive activities and food this winter.
Across Wirral, children in receipt of free school meals will be ending the year on a high with a choice of over 60 free activity clubs, offering enriching and memorable activities such as; ice skating, Santa’s grottos, days out, winter wonderlands and much more!
The 41 hand-picked providers, who are all passionate about supporting children, will make Wirral a playground for young people and their families. They will create long-lasting memories whilst enjoying delicious, festive meals – making it a winter young people will never forget.
Thanks to the Department for Education, funding has been made available for the first time to organise holiday activity fun during the winter holidays. Across the borough this year, Edsential’s HAF programme has already supported over 8,000 children and their families. These vital clubs help to bring the local community together and provide for families who need it most.
One parent who benefited from Edsential’s HAF summer programme said, “It really helped as I have three daughters and I’m not always able to do activities with them. This kept their minds and bodies on the go, keeping them active and well. They really enjoyed it and I enjoyed going to sessions with them, as it gave us some valuable family time.”
Edsential and Wirral Council have worked together to make this year’s winter holiday activity programme one to remember.
Bethan Cooper, Holiday Activity Fund Manager at Edsential, said, “We are so pleased that we have so many community providers wanting to support children and young people across the borough this winter. Our providers have really pulled out all the stops to ensure an array of never-before-seen HAF activities that will certainly give children and young people a memorable experience and seasonal cheer.”
This winter, Edsential’s Holiday Activity Fund aims to reach over 3,400 young people and their families in the community.
Councillor Wendy Clements, Chair of Wirral Council’s Children, Young People and Education
Committee, said, “As well as providing lots of enjoyable winter activities, the Holiday Activity Fund has many positive benefits, such as encouraging young people to stay active over the holiday and providing safe spaces for them to take part in enriching activities with others.
“I’m sure the experience will make the festive season even more special for everyone involved and welcome this government investment in Wirral’s families.”
A full list of the winter holiday activity clubs across Wirral can be found at: www.edsential.com/holidayactivityfund2021
Why not follow birkenhead.news on Facebook and Twitter? You can also send story ideas to news@birkenhead.news