Moray Council approves summer holiday food and childcare programme
A PROGRAMME of accessible activities, childcare and food for Moray’s children and young people during the summer holidays has been approved today (29 June) by Moray Council.
Over £173,000 of Scottish Government funding has been allocated to Moray Council for the targeted provision which will benefit children aged 5-14 from low income families during the school break.
85% of the funding will be targeted towards those from priority family groups including: children from lone parent families; children from ethnic minority families; children from families with a disabled adult or child; children from families with a young mother under 25; children from families with a child under one years-old; and children from larger families with three or more children.
The remaining 15% of the funding will be used flexibly to reach other children who would benefit from access to free holiday childcare, food and activities.
The programme has been developed by the Wellbeing Partnership Group with funding to support Moray-wide and local options. Organisations to receive funding include: Aberlour Youth Point; Children 1st; Dance North; Moray Women’s Aid; Quarriers; RAF Lossiemouth Childcare Centre; The Loft; Scottish Disability Support, and more.
All sessions supported by the funding will include access to healthy food for children.
Moray Council’s Convener, Cllr Marc Macrae, said that the funding is crucial to ensuring that children and young people from low income families are supported during the holidays.
“Every child, regardless of their family income, should have equal opportunities to play, socialise and stay active during the school holidays. The programme of activities across Moray will allow our young people to broaden their experiences and expand on their learning.”
This targeted investment complements other means of holiday support such as free school meal replacement for those eligible on the basis of low income, the Active Schools summer programme and the Youth Work Re:connect programme.
Organisations in receipt of this funding will contact families who meet the criteria. A list of additional activities on offer for children and young people during the summer holidays will be published on the Moray Council website shortly.