New Summer Holidays Lunch And Fun Clubs To Get £500,000 Of Welsh Government Support – Kirsty Williams

New Welsh Government investment will help provide quality meals and activities during the school summer holidays aimed at helping pupils from some of Wales’ most deprived communities, the Education Secretary announced today. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

£500,000 of funding will go towards lunch and fun clubs in some primary schools during the school summer holidays. The money will help provide breakfast, lunch, education about eating healthily and a programme of activities developed through the schools taking part. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Five local authorities in Wales already run such schemes and councils will be able to access the new funding for the 2017/18 financial year. The precise makeup of each club may vary in each area. The Welsh Government will now work closely with the Welsh Local Government Association to distribute the funding and further details will be announced later in the year. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Kirsty Williams said: ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“I am delighted to announce £500,000 for lunch and fun clubs that will provide opportunities for children to be more active, eat healthily and develop friendships whilst also making the most of our local school facilities. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“These clubs will offer a positive environment for all our children during the summer holidays, including providing free meals, as well as a range of activities and fun through what can be a long break for some. By also involving our universities in the scheme we will also help raise aspirations for children across Wales. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“The reality is for some of our young people the school summer holidays can be a difficult time. Children who benefit from free school breakfasts and lunches often miss meals and go hungry once their school closes for the holidays, while the lack of free play schemes and sports activities can have an impact on those from the most disadvantaged backgrounds. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“My ambition is to make sure everyone in Wales, no matter what their background, has the opportunity to thrive and achieve their best. I remain committed to closing the achievement gap between the pupils from our most deprived communities and those from more prosperous areas.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​