A holiday programme of sport, arts and crafts, outdoor activities, cooking and drama for children who receive free school meals in Trafford has begun.
The free sessions with nutritious, hot food at lunchtime are open to 1,900 school-aged children from five to 16, including those with additional needs, and will continue until Friday 2 January.
News comes as Department for Education funding is confirmed to continue the Holiday Activities and Food work of the Council for the next three years.
A total of 22 days of sessions are held through the school year. Partners welcoming children and young people for activities this Christmas include Timperley Boxing Club, Old Trafford Game Changa Youth Club, Partington Community and Wellbeing Centre and the Global Make-up, Hair and Productions Academy.
Cllr Karina Carter, Trafford Council’s Executive Member for Babies, Children and Young People, said:
“Our holiday clubs can involve helping young people get involved with new and enriching activities as well as helping them to make friends and have fun.
“We’re pleased to be able to offer these activities to families with low incomes at a time of year when entertaining children and keeping them warm and well fed can be particularly hard.”
Cllr Eve Parker, Trafford Council’s Executive Member for Leisure, Arts, Culture and Heritage added:
“We are delighted that funding has been secured so that we can carry on working with our partners to offer these important sessions.
“We have some great activity providers working with the Council to make sure that we can line up a whole range of good things to do and lovely food to eat.”
The HAF programme has been backed by £600m of Government money nationally for 2026 to 2028.
Find out more about HAF on the Trafford Directory website.