Football, swimming, crafts, and outdoor cooking are amongst the fun activities on offer from Babergh and Mid Suffolk District Councils and partners during the February half-term school holidays, next week.
The councils are working with a range of partners to deliver the varied programme of activities to help families through the holidays, supporting their commitment to supporting residents’ health and wellbeing, focusing on those most in need.
Explore Outdoor are once again offering outdoor cooking masterclasses to families in need during the school break in several locations across the districts – cementing the councils’ commitment to reducing health inequalities, as set out in their recently adopted Wellbeing Strategy.
Families are given the opportunity to learn how to cook a hearty and nutritious meal in the outdoors. In addition, they receive a free box of ingredients and recipe cards so they can prepare healthy, tasty food at home – supporting the councils’ ongoing ambition to combat holiday hunger.
There are also free swims and lunch, football, arts and crafts, and even recording studio slots on offer for youngsters, with events at Stowmarket and Eye in Mid Suffolk, and at Great Cornard, Sudbury, Hadleigh and Brantham in Babergh.
Although free places are allocated on a needs basis – with local schools identifying families in receipt of free school meals or eligible for other reasons – children not meeting this criteria are also welcome to participate in many of the events for a small cost.
Babergh’s cabinet member for communities, Cllr Derek Davis, said: “Keeping children entertained during the school holidays can be a challenge, and it’s one I’ve experienced myself.
“I am pleased we are able to continue to work closely with our partners to offer a range of activities to beat holiday boredom and encourage everyone to lead fit and healthy lives. And importantly, we can make sure no child is hungry or lonely because of their family finances.”
Mid Suffolk’s cabinet member for communities, Cllr Julie Flatman, said: “We want to help everyone to be able to be active, eat healthily and take part in fun activities to help their overall wellbeing. Putting on activities, with our partners, over the school holidays helps ease the pressure on families. For some it’s a fun way to spend a few hours, and for others it’s a real lifeline.”
Full details of all the activities available, and how to book, are on the councils’ website.