Children will be able to take part in school holiday activities and receive healthy meals free of charge as part of a new programme.
The government has announced plans to roll out the holiday activities and food programme across the whole of England this year.
The programme has been providing free healthy meals and extra curricular activities to disadvantaged children since 2018, but only in selected parts of the country.
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The programme will cover the Christmas holidays in 2021, along with Easter and summer holidays next year.
It will be made available to all families with children who receive benefits-related free school meals.
School holidays can be particular pressure points for some families because of increased costs of food, childcare and or reduced income from being forced to take time off.
Children from disadvantaged families therefore might be forced to miss out on social clubs or out-of-school activities, experience social isolation, go hungry or live off a poor diet lacking in nutrition.
The government, who has allocated £220m to local authorities to coordinate free holiday provision, is hoping that the programmes introduction would bridge that gap.
The free holiday clubs will provide parents with free childcare during the holidays, offer enriching and easily accessible activities for children and provide participants with at least one healthy meal a day.
The programme aims to encourage children to be more active during the holidays, help with their character building and well being and be more engaged with school and other local services.
There will also be support for parents., carers or other family members with guidance on how to source and cook nutritious and low-cost food - as well as signpost them to to other support services which might be helpful.
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