26/8/2022

More than 30 of Cardiff's city-wide partners are providing school children with opportunities totake part in sport, learn new skills and socialise as part of Cardiff's multi-award-winningFood and Funprogramme.

The initiative, now in its seventh year, helps to ease the financial pressures on many families across the city during the school holiday period by providing healthy nutritious meals alongside an exciting programme of educational, skills and sports provision as well as sessions in nutrition from Cardiff and Vale University Health Board.

Cabinet Member for Education, Employment and Skills, Cllr Sarah Merry said: "During the past seven years, Cardiff Council has established successful partnership working with a host of organisations across the city who play a key role in supportingFood and Fun. Their involvement is integral in promoting positive health and wellbeing amongst those children who benefit from the scheme the most.

"By providing access to physical activity, healthy meals, nutrition education and food sessions, the initiative offers a wide range of activities which some children may not usually have the opportunity to take part in. Additionally, it helps ease the financial burden that the six-week school brings particularly during a time when the effects of the current cost of living crisis is having considerable impact on many families.

"Without the time, commitment and enthusiasm from our partners, the scheme would not be the success that it has become and I would like to thank each and every one of them for their support."

New for this year and in a bid to support the increased use of locally grown produce in school meals,Food and Funhas been taking part in Food Cardiff's Veg Pilot. Working together, local growers, Food Cardiff, Cardiff Council and the city's school meal supplier Castell Howell, have been exploringhow more local produce could be incorporated into school meals through engagement with children and the supply chain. The initiative supports Cardiff's commitment to supply two portions of veg in all school lunches.

Highlights from the summer so far have included a Pentrebane Primary School pupil learning to ride his bike for the first time on day one, staff from Castell Howell, Authentic Curries and World Foods stepping in to cook at two  primary schools and Panasonic providing two bread makers to eachFood and Funschool so that pupils can bake their own bread.

The extensive programme of activities has included rocket making and science experiments from Techniquest, planting vegetables from Grow Cardiff, bug hunting fromAction in Caerau and Ely (ACE) and treasure hunting and fun history lessons from Museum of Cardiff.

Sport Cardiff, Glamorgan Cricket, Cardiff City Foundation,GolfStarzWales, RBI Wales Baseball Softball, Golf Wales and Tribal Basketball are just some of the organisations that have provided sports session. In addition dance and drama has been delivered by Jukebox Collective and the cast from Lion King at Wales Millennium Centre.

Other highlights have included sessions from the Dogs Trust, Cardiff University, Resolve it, Cardiff Libraries, Cardiff Council Children's Play Service, Wates, Network Rail and the Royal Navy.Welsh Ambulance Service andSouth Wales Fire and Rescue have been providing sessions in first aid, CPR and fire safety and South Wales Police have taught youngsters about internet safety, making fingerprints, and police horses.

Cardiff Council would like to thank all the city-wide partners who have supported this years Food and Fun.

TheFood and Funscheme was developed by Cardiff's School Holiday Enrichment team in 2015 and was adopted by Welsh Government and rolled out to the rest of Wales during the following two years. It has been used as an example of Best Practice and has led to Wales being recognised as having the most advanced holiday provision in the UK. The scheme supports Cardiff's ambition to become a UNICEF UK Child Friendly City which puts children at the heart of the city.

To find out more please visit: School Holiday Enrichment Programme, Food and Fun | Food Cardiff