Preston North End Community and Education Trust will deliver a free winter holiday programme, as part of the government Holiday Activities and Food [HAF] programme, for children aged five to 16-years-old from Monday 20th December until Thursday 23rd December.
The free programme, forming part of Spring North’s ‘Get Stuck In’ initiative, will cater for children who are eligible for free school meals, providing them with fun and engaging activities ahead of the Christmas break as well as daily free and nutritious lunches.
Children accessing the programme will also be supported to remain safe during their time off school while being prevented from becoming socially isolated.
The provision will include varying activities on each day of delivery.
Children will visit a Cinderella pantomime show in Wigan, the Flip-Out trampolining centre in Preston, and then have a party day at PlayFootball Preston – on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, respectively.
On Thursday 23rd December, there will be no activities running for children. However, children who attend on the party day on Wednesday will be provided with a free lunch and activity pack for this day if required.
Children will be provided with a free lunch, and return transport from one of two venues if required, on all three days of activity, with a full timetable below.
|
Day |
Venue / Activity |
Transport depart time |
Transport return time |
|
Monday 20th December |
Cinderella pantomime, Wigan
1pm – 3pm |
Deepdale: 11am
|
Deepdale: 4.30pm |
|
Tuesday 21st December |
Flip-out Trampolining Centre, Preston |
Deepdale: N/A |
Deepdale: N/A |
|
Wednesday 23rd December |
Party day at PlayFootball Preston
10.30am – 1.30pm |
Deepdale: 10am |
Deepdale: 2pm |
PNECET Head of Community Engagement Rebecca Robertson said: “We’re pleased to again be delivering the HAF programme for children who are eligible for free school meals this winter.
“Christmas time can be difficult for many families, and we hope this provision can help to alleviate any of the stresses or worries which may be faced by those families this winter, while giving the children who access the programme some days to remember.
“We want this programme to feel like a real treat for those who attend while providing memorable experiences for children who might not ordinarily be able to access such opportunities.”
The provision is now fully booked, but there are similar initiatives running courtesy of other providers in the Preston area.
Other providers include Discovery Vine Holiday Club, Fishwick Rangers Youth and Community Development Scheme, Preston United Youth Development Programme, Giddy Kids Playcentre, Flip-Out Trampoline and Adventure Park, The Larder, and the Gujarati Sunni Muslim Society.
Alternative providers’ holiday provision offers can be viewed by visiting https://getstuckin.org.uk/preston-holiday-clubs/.