5,000 eligible Hampshire children got free hot meals over Christmas holidays
The County Council runs activities for children in low-income families
More than 5,000 children across Hampshire enjoyed free hot meals and activities over the Christmas holiday.
That's a jump of 18% on the year before.
The county council says 47 organisations provided holiday clubs across 125 sites in Hampshire.
Councillor Edward Heron, Executive Lead Member for Children’s Services, said:
“It is heartening that despite attendance being affected by Strep A and winter flu, we were able to serve hot and healthy meals and offer good-quality physical activity and food education to young people and their families over the holiday. This surpassed our target of supporting 5000 children and represents an increase of 18 per cent on last year.
“Most impressive has been the increase in local partnership working, with food banks, community pantries and a number of supermarkets providing sessions and ingredients at little or no cost, enabling participants to take home food to cook and share with their families. Hampshire’s libraries have also acted as information hubs, enabling families involved to access further support where needed. I look forward to visiting some of HAF sessions during the Easter break when even more children will be able to join in.”
In Hampshire, there are more than 33,000 children who are eligible for free Holiday and Activity Fund (HAF) places.
The project, which runs over the Easter, Summer and Christmas holidays, is funded until 2025 by a £10 million government grant, and delivered by local providers including schools, sports and arts organisations and community venues, all commissioned, trained and monitored by Hampshire County Council.
774 HAF packs – including meal ingredients, cooking instructions, books and activity kits – were distributed alongside some of the face-to face sessions over the Christmas holidays.
Providers for the Easter 2023 programme are currently being finalised.