Toby McLuskie Over the Easter break, our holiday activities and food programmes (HAF) helped deliver 216 sessions across 24 venues in Cornwall, Devon, Torbay, and Plymouth.
Our Devon HAF, Fit and Fed, and Time2Move programmes provide healthy food and enriching activities to children and young people, with free places available for those on free school meals during the school holidays.
576 young people, aged between four and 15, engaged in physical activity and food education on our programmes. 77% of participants are from the top 40% of the most deprived areas nationally.
When completing feedback for our programmes, participants had nothing but positive things to say:
- 84% learned a new sport, activity, or skill.
- 94% enjoyed our enrichment workshops and physical activities.
- 94% made friends during the programme and it helped them interact with others.
- 94% felt happier and more energetic after participating in the programme.
- Every participant thinks the programme is a good way of having fun and staying active during the school holidays.
One parent said: “The HAF programme is a great way for the kids to be involved in activities during the school holidays. It’s something we wouldn’t be able to afford ourselves without the generous help from Argyle Community Trust. We appreciate every day the kids can attend.”
Another parent explained: “My daughter made friends, built confidence, learned how to play new games and was very happy to attend. The activities were brilliant especially the bath bombs, NERF guns, drawings, bouncy castles, meeting animals, and dodgeball. Thank you!”
Stew Walbridge, the Trust’s Head of Participation, said: “Argyle Community Trust is delighted to have supported every child through the HAF programmes during the Easter period.
“As an organisation, we are proud to be able to offer meaningful experiences for children and families who require support during the holiday periods, using sports and enrichment activities as the tool.
“Across the regions we operate in, we partner with local councils and schools to maximise our impact on the local communities, to help target and impact those most in need.”
For more information on our HAF programmes, please contact:
- Charlie Hardcastle, Plymouth Fit & Fed and Devon HAF lead, hardcastle@pafc.co.uk.
- Liam Chinn, West Cornwall Time2Move lead, chinn@pafc.co.uk.
- Gary Jeffrey, East Cornwall and North Devon Time2Move lead, gary.jeffrey@pafc.co.uk.
