The school holidays can be a tricky time for parents, with concerns over childcare and the cost of that childcare looming large every time the kids break up from school. Holiday activity clubs can be absolutely vital but are often costly – and that’s where The New Saints FC, Shropshire Council and Connexus stepped in to support the time-stretched parents of North Shropshire.
Over the past few school holidays, The New Saints FC have been running a full holiday programme of activities and healthy meals for children as part of Shropshire Council’s Holiday Activities and Food programme (HAF), with extra funding support provided by Connexus’ community-focused fund. Funding for the HAF programme, provided by Shropshire Council, provided these sessions for those children who are eligible for free school meals, with the extra Connexus funding helping extend this offer to all children.
An incredible 114 hours of children’s activities were delivered to 843 children during the Easter, May half term and summer holidays. Organisers The New Saints FC applied to Connexus for additional funding from the Community Development Fund, which supports community projects across Shropshire and Herefordshire. This year, the fund is focusing on projects that support Connexus customers through financially difficult times.
Children attending the HAF programme at The New Saints FC were treated to a wide range of indoor and outdoor activities, including Commonwealth Games inspired athletics, football, archery, parachute games, relays themed around food waste and food miles, rounders and much more. Qualified coaches were on hand to support any children feeling less reluctant to get involved and to make sure every child found the activity to suit them. The New Saints FC also worked with Shropshire Libraries, who encouraged children attending the summer activity programme to take part in their Summer Reading Challenge.
Every child attending an activity day with The New Saints FC received a free nutritious hot or cold meal, provided by caterer Manic Events and served in recyclable packaging/containers. Children were offered a different menu each week, ranging from hot jacket potatoes, with a variety of healthy fillings, through to summer picnic meals, with sandwiches and veg sticks. Fresh fruit was provided as dessert – and to keep everybody’s energy levels up!
Childcare can be difficult at the best of times, but the lengthy school holidays can be especially trying for parents. Holiday activity programmes - such as Shropshire Council's HAF programme - can help parents maximise their time during the school holidays while ensuring their child is well looked after. The hard work and dedication of the coaches and staff at The New Saints FC, coupled with the extra funding from Connexus, is offering local parents an option when it comes to affordable holiday childcare.
