Over 1,600 Wiltshire children benefit from free food and activities over summer holidays.
Programme helps those who usually get free school meals
Over 1,600 young people took part Wiltshire Council’s FUEL programme over the summer holidays with just under 17,000 nutritious meals provided.
Wiltshire Council’s Holiday Activity and Food programme, branded FUEL, is funded by the Department of Education and provides children who are eligible for benefits related free school meals with free access to activity, food and nutritional education during school holidays.
The FUEL programme also partnered with the Dyson Foundation who provided participants with 530 food boxes and 130 recipe books as well as weekly science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) sessions. Wiltshire Council also received funding from the Waitrose ‘Give a Little Love’ campaign enabling the provision of additional food bags and recipe cards to families of children attending.
The programme took place in areas of the county where there is the greatest need for support and was delivered through ten activity camps.
In addition, there were two camps specifically for children with a disability and five community camps, provided by local organisations who were awarded grants to deliver their own provision.
Children were able to get involved in a range of activities including bubble football, climbing, dance, circus skills, talent shows, arts and crafts workshops and a variety of sport and physical activity sessions.
There were also nutritional workshops on healthy eating.
Cllr Laura Mayes, Cabinet Member for Children's Services, Education and Skills said;
"I have been lucky enough to visit the FUEL camps a couple of times and what I see is very happy children having a fabulous time”
"The FUEL camps not only provide hot food, healthy eating advice and a range of activities, but also support the young people’s overall wellbeing.
Wiltshire Council say the programme will run over the Christmas holidays.
To find out more email fuelprogramme@wiltshire.gov.uk or visit https://www.wiltshire.gov.uk/leisure/fuel-programme.