NE Lincolnshire Council News

06 Jul 2021

School Summer Holiday Help for Families

School Summer Holiday Help for Families: School Holidays Get Set Go

Funding brings free holiday activities to children this summer.

FREE school holiday activities have been made available to eligible children in Grimsby and Cleethorpes, bringing a summer packed with activities to families who may otherwise have been unable to attend.

Funding secured by Lincs Inspire from North East Lincolnshire Council means that many activities in the charitable trust’s action-packed summer holiday programme are now available under the Government’s Holiday Activity and Food Programme (HAF) funded by the Department for Education.

The funding allows children who receive benefits-related free school meals (FSMs) to attend many of Lincs Inspire’s holiday activity days for free, along with receiving a healthy lunch or cookery kit.

Sue Wells, Lincs Inspire’s chief executive, said: “After a year of not being able to bring our much-loved holiday programme to local children we are of course delighted to be back, but the funding means that our programme will be able to reach children who may never have had the opportunity to attend before.

“We have five full weeks of activities planned. And there is something for everyone. We have football, crafts, dance, athletics, multi-sports and performing arts, along with a new session called Wet n’ Wild – prepared to get soaked!”

The programme is still open to all children, and families eligible for FSMs can book sessions for free using a Voucher Code supplied by their school.

Sue added: “School holidays can be a particularly difficult time for some families due to increased food and childcare costs and reduced incomes. It can mean that families struggle to provide food and activities for children.

“Our programme will mean that more children will be more active during the school holidays, they’ll make lots of new friends, perhaps try something new and have a lot of fun!”

Councillor Ian Lindley, portfolio holder for children, education and skills at North East Lincolnshire Council, said: “Lots of children have been stuck at home during the last year, so it’s great that Lincs Inspire are putting on all these fantastic activities to give them a healthy dose of fun during the summer holidays.

“The Holiday Activities and Food programme is aimed at tackling so-called ‘unhealthy holidays’ by improving children’s physical health and nutrition during the school break.”

Lincs Inspire’s school holiday programme is available on their website – www.lincsinspire.com/schoolholidays - and all sessions must be booked in advance. 

Eligible children can get a Voucher Code from their school and enter this when using the separate “HAF Booking” link on the website. Children attending for free will be required to bring their local authority issued letter, which confirms their eligibility for Free School Meals. Lincs Inspire will also be checking details against the local authority’s Free School Meal’s database.

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Photo attached: Get Set Go! Lincs Inspire's sports coaches preparing for the school summer holiday activity programme.

Contact Information

Notes to editors

About HAF
The Department for Education’s Holiday Activities and Food programme is being rolled out across England with providers being invited to apply for funding to host activities for disadvantaged children.

Local organisations and community champions can submit bids to North East Lincolnshire Council for funding to host activities.

Activities should be aimed at school-age children who are eligible for benefits-related free school meals.

Each activity must offer fun and enriching activities that offer children the chance to learn and develop. Activity providers should also offer food as part of the programme.

Information for providers on how to apply can be found at www.nelincs.gov.uk/funding-for-haf-programmes.

The deadline for applications is 5pm on Saturday 17 July 2021.

About Lincs Inspire
Lincs Inspire is a charitable trust – a non-profit organisation bringing leisure, sport, cultural and library services to local communities.

Lincs Inspire ethos is to help and improve people’s lives and wellbeing by creating more inclusive places to live, work, and visit. Lincs Inspire connects people with each other, offers a safe and welcoming space with a range of activities and professional advice on hand.

Activities and facilities are diverse, mindful, and inclusive of our communities and there is something on offer for everyone. Barriers are removed to encourage active involvement.

Lincs Inspire brings people together, provides an opportunity for communities to socialise, build friendships, support individual’s personal development, and improve their quality of life.

For further information visit www.lincsinspire.com