Council to feed Worcestershire children in the summer holidays with £1.5million fund

Worcestershire County Council has been given £1.5 million by the government to provide free school meals and activities over the summer holidays.

The funding will allow Ready Steady Worcestershire, a council-run service, to provide information about food, activities and support.

They are also launching summer activities and meals.

This help is available to families with children from nursery and primary ages, through to older children and teenagers.

In November 2020, the government announced that the Holiday, Activities and Food (HAF) programme, which has provided healthy food and enriching activities to children since 2018, will be expanded across the whole of England this year to children in every local authority.

Councillor Marcus Hart, cabinet member for education said: "I really welcome this funding from the Department of Education (DfE). It is a fantastic opportunity for schools and providers across the county to run exciting, enriching summer holiday activities, with healthy meals, making sure that all of Worcestershire’s children have a great summer."

The booking system will be going live early next month, but to register your interest in a place for a child on this summer’s programme, go to https://hafworcestershire.formstack.com/forms/summer_haf_programme_updates

Worcestershire County Council is providing welfare support services with Here2Help being on hand to help any resident who requires extra support.

Anyone in need of help can contact Here2Help via its webpage or telephone on 01905 768053.

Earlier this year, a campaign by Manchester United and England forward Marcus Rashford saw the government commit to providing free school meals to disadvantaged children during the Easter holidays.

Restaurants, cafes and shops from across the county, as well as in Worcestershire, answered the call, with the government finally committing to feed children who would normally receive free school meals.