Gateshead Council is set to provide an expanded programme of activity and meals for children during the summer holidays thanks to Government funding.
The borough will benefit from a share of £9.1m from the Department for Education to provide free meals and activities including sport, dance, arts, crafts and drama throughout the six-week break.
Community venues, churches and sports clubs will all play their part with more than 20 different organisations expected to provide over 2,700 places for children across Gateshead.
Over the last five years the Council has worked with community groups and partners to provide 'Fill the Holiday Gap' activities which have provided food alongside fun activities and things to do. The programme has been identified as good practice by Northumbria University.
Healthy and nutritious food is provided alongside the activities which will take place over several hours each day and in each week of the summer holidays.
Colin Huntington, Acting Strategic Director for Communities and Environment at Gateshead Council, said : "Our holiday activities and food programmes have been very well received by children and their parents over the last few years, but we know there are more families in Gateshead who can benefit from this provision.
"We're delighted to have been awarded this funding which will allow us to expand our programme to cover more days and every week of the school holidays.
"This year's programme will be the largest amount of provision yet with the Council recognising how difficult it can be for struggling families to cope throughout the long summer holiday period."
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