Stuart Anderson MP has welcomed a £1.9 million investment in Wolverhampton’s Holidays Activities and Food Programme, as the Government confirms funding for 2023. It means that children across the city from low-income families can continue to access free holiday provision, including healthy food and enriching activities during the school holidays next year. These free holiday clubs support parents with childcare costs over the Christmas, Easter, and Summer holidays by providing free, nutritious meals and enriching activities to school-aged children from reception to year 11 who receive benefits-related free school meals such as football, play sessions, and cooking classes. Local authorities can use up to a maximum of 15% of their funding allocation to provide free or subsidised places for children who are not in receipt of benefits-related free school meals but who the local authority believe could benefit from this provision.
New figures show that around 600,000 children benefitted from the scheme over summer 2022 across over 8,000 clubs, events, or organised activities in England. To continue supporting families most in need, the Government has confirmed over £200 million in funding for local authorities for the programme in 2023, enabling every local authority across England to continue to provide for their communities. The provision supports children’s learning and experiences, boosts public health priorities on healthy living, and, by offering free holiday childcare, helps parents to access work during the holiday period, in turn boosting the economy. Clubs offer engaging and enriching activities such as arts, sports, drama, and music which provide opportunities to develop and strengthen skills or knowledge. Activities on offer can also include trips and other valuable learning experiences.
The programme runs alongside the Household Support Fund, which supports vulnerable households to buy food or pay essential utility bills or meet other essential living costs or housing costs in exceptional cases of genuine emergency. Last month, Wolverhampton was allocated an extra £2.6 million to continue supporting vulnerable households in the period between the 1st of October 2022 to the 31st of March 2023. In addition, the Government's existing early education entitlement offer has extended access to millions more children and parents over the last decade. This includes tax-Free Childcare for children from 0-11 years old, or up to 16 if the child is disabled. The scheme means that, for every £8 parents pay their provider via an online account, the Government will pay £2 – up to a maximum contribution of £2,000 per child each year, or £4,000 if the child is disabled. Working parents on a low income can also get up to 85% of their childcare costs for children under 16 reimbursed through Universal Credit Childcare. For more information, visit www.stuartanderson.org.uk/support-individuals.
Education Secretary, Gillian Keegan, said: “Giving children access to nutritious meals and fun, enriching activities over the holidays supports children’s mental, physical and social development and offers them opportunities that they may otherwise not have, whilst helping parents who may not be able to afford similar childcare. It’s fantastic to see that over half a million children benefitted from the programme over the summer, and I’m delighted to announce the continuation of the programme into 2023.”
Stuart Anderson MP said: “As a parent, I want to ensure that everyone has access to high-quality, affordable, and flexible childcare which provides enriching experiences and helps children to learn in their earliest years. Being happy, having fun, and meeting new friends is an integral part of this. That’s why I am pleased that the City of Wolverhampton has been allocated an extra £1.9 million so that children can benefit from free, nutritious food, and organised activities during the school holidays in 2023.”