School’s Out Programme Promises To Be A Game-Changer

This summer will see the return of Bridgend County Borough Council’s popular School’s Out programme, with a huge variety of activities and events taking place for different age groups. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

As part of the action-packed summer schedule, children aged between eight and 12 years old are being offered free places in Active 4 Life schemes which focus on fun, sports, games, arts and creative activities. Registrations will remain open over the holidays and children are encouraged to stay for the whole length of the sessions to get the most out of all the activities on offer. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Run in partnership with each area’s town or community council, the Active 4 Life programme will take place from Monday to Friday over a four week stint during the summer holidays in different locations across the county borough. This year, the Schools Out programme will also incorporate a brand new Play Rangers initiative for 2016, where youngsters will be encouraged to explore the outdoors and take part in exciting ‘play’ adventures. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Children aged three to seven can enjoy quality play time with their families at Mini Play 4 Life sessions, which will include a range of activities such as arts and crafts, games, dance and fun play at various community venues. These sessions will be held on various dates during the holidays. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Bridgend County Borough Council is also keen to support Welsh language activities as part of the School’s Out campaign, and parents can find information on activities which are being run by Menter Bro Ogwr and Urdd Gobaith Cymru on the council’s Schools Out web pages. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Bridgend County Borough Council’s Cabinet Member for Children’s Social Services and Equalities, Councillor Hailey Townsend, said: “Our School’s Out programme is the highlight of many young people’s summer holidays and continues to go from strength to strength since it started seven years ago. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“The various holiday schemes offer children a great way to stay active during the holidays, and we hope that children and parents make the most of the free activities on offer this summer. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“I would like to acknowledge the town and community councils who have supported these schemes over the years, as well as partner organisations such as Halo Leisure, Swansea City AFC, Awen Cultural Trust and local community groups. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“We would also encourage residents to take advantage of our beautiful green spaces and beaches in Bridgend County Borough while the sun is shining!” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

For full details about School’s Out 2016 holiday schemes including Mini Play 4 Life, Active 4 Life, Play Rangers as well as other children’s summer activities taking place near you, please visit www.bridgend.gov.uk, or contact Bridgend County Borough Council’s Active Young People Department on 01656 815215. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Please note that the holiday play schemes are subject to change and should not be relied upon for childcare arrangements. Children must be registered before attending sessions, but registrations will remain open throughout the summer. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Mini Play 4 Life ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Active 4 Life ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​