Kingston Council funds summer holiday food and activities programme for families
Kingston Council has agreed funding to support vulnerable children and families over the summer break.
Throughout the summer, the council’s Children’s Services provider Achieving for Children will be teaming up with holiday clubs, youth centres, sports groups and more to deliver a programme of holiday activities and food. From Monday 26 July until Friday 27 August, children and young people in receipt of benefits-related Free School Meals will be able to access the FUEL 2021 programme, offering a regular source of free activity groups and nutritious meals.
At the heart of the programme is a school holiday voucher scheme for children who access free school meals and for vulnerable 2, 3 and 4 year olds. Families will receive £15 per week per child in supermarket vouchers.
Young people will also be able to attend up to 16 days worth of activities, and these sessions will be held across the borough. Some clubs are open to all, while others are exclusive to FUEL families.
Kingston Council’s Portfolio Holder for Children’s Services, Councillor Diane White, welcomed the scheme:
“It’s absolutely right that vulnerable families receive support to help them keep active and eat well over the summer holidays and I’m very proud that Kingston Council is facilitating this fantastic programme.
“All the providers offer a mix of entertainment to keep children and young people safely entertained and active, as well as providing them with one or more meals, to ensure they have a happy and memorable summer.”
More information about how to access the FUEL prograame is available on the AfC website.
The food vouchers are funded from the local Covid Support Grant, from the Department for Work and Pensions.