Cardiff Council's School Holiday Enrichment Programme (SHEP), has been rolled out to a record number of schools this year, with the message that the scheme offers much more than just healthy meals.
Now in its fifth year,Food and Fun provides children with the opportunity to socialise and enjoy healthy nutritious meals during the school holidays, with the aim ofeasing the financial burden on families. It also provides children with theopportunity to try new experiences which they can share with friends on their return to school for the new term.
As part of the scheme, children benefit from sport and educational activity as well as learning new skills which are delivered by a host of local and national organisations, during theFood and Funsessions.
Highlights from around the city have included;
- A visit from Welsh Cycling led to 7 year old Rio Raven from Pentrebane Primary School learning to ride a bike for the first time.
- Welsh Ambulance have been teaching children how to carry out CPR to the tune of Baby Shark, helping them understand the speed at which to do it.
- RNLI have delivered water safety sessions, helping children to identify risks and recognising the meanings of beach flags and signs.
- Glamorgan Cricket have provided cricket taster sessions, together with opportunities for families to attend T20 matches.
Cardiff Council's Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Education, Employment and Skills, Cllr Sarah Merry said: "The idea behind the scheme is to provide our children with fun education and sporting activity alongside quality, healthy meals which are delivered in a safe and nurturing environment during the school holidays.
"The focus is about enrichment, we know that longstretches away from school can sometimes result in children becoming less active or relying on unhealthy food.Food and Funenables them to access healthy meals, nutritional skills, sports and other educational activities, whilst promoting social inclusion."
"The success of the programme relies on the support from partners who provide children with a host of engaging activity and life skills and I am grateful to all those organisations who have already volunteered their time and resources. This truly has a positive impact on the children, families and the local community."
Food and Fun is now delivered in 16 of Cardiff's schools and is a joint partnership project between Cardiff Council, Food Cardiff, Sport Cardiff, Public Health Wales and the Cardiff and Vale University Health Board.
If you are a business or organisation who would be interested in supporting the Food and Fun scheme please contact Judith Gregory;jgregory@cardiff.gov.uk