Walsall scheme supporting struggling families

The Walsall Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) Programme is currently under way across the borough for youngsters aged between five and 16 who are eligible for free school meals.

The Department for Education funded scheme sees a number of local libraries, community centres and other venues host a series of events and activities.

And the programme, which was first held last year, has been credited for boosting children’s socialisation during the holidays as well as ensuring some don’t miss out on the meals they normally would do at school.

Activities have included a range of sports, Lego sessions, a zoo lab where children can interact with small animals, gadgets workshops, arts and crafts and outdoor pursuits.

Mum Kayleigh Mowbray says she tries to bring her children Reece, aged 13 and eight-year-old Riley to sessions at least twice a week.

She said: “I think these programmes are really good. They get the kids out and socialise with others.

“With six weeks off school, I feel they miss out on a lot of interaction with other children, especially as Reece has autism. He becomes a lot more reclusive and then he can’t socialise when he goes back to school.

“This keeps up their interaction skills and helps stop them being bored.

“It also gives them an opportunity to see and do things. You can go to the zoo and pay to see the animals but you don’t get the interaction like they did with the Zoo Lab.

“And going to theme parks or the cinema can be costly just to get in and then they want food, play on games and rides. It can get expensive.

“I think this really helps a lot of families and it definitely benefits the children.”

If children take part in week-long camps, they are given a meal while one hour activity sessions see them provided with refreshments.

Councillor Tim Wilson, portfolio holder for Children’s Services, said the programme runs for four weeks in the summer, one at Easter and a week during Christmas.

He said: “It’s about engaging our young people, particularly those who are from deprived areas, in activity when they are on holiday.

“We understand families are struggling and sometimes some of our young people have their school meal which they won’t get in the holiday times.

“This is about replacing that in the summer. It’s for the four of the six weeks’ holiday but we give them an activity to do, plus a meal.

“We’ve sent meal boxes home with some of the young people as well. Some maybe who can’t attend or some who are doing sessions at home.

“We can supply them with a healthy meal which is important for them. We know how important nutrition is.”

He said the numbers using the sessions were growing in terms of children and families who attend as well as the number of host providers.

He added: “I spoke to some parents and for them it’s about the socialising aspect for their children. Seeing and engaging with other young people which they don’t always get the opportunity to do.

“They are also not always able to go on holiday, the cost of living is increasing all the time so for them to get out of the house enjoy an activity, get a bit of socialisation with food or refreshments is a great opportunity.

“We can see it is working because the numbers are increasing for those attending and it is getting more traction.

“It’s helping some young people with going back to school and the idea of returning without being separated from their peers, they’ve still socialised.

“Feedback from the families has all been positive, they say it’s nice for them to get out the house and an option of things for children to do across the borough.”