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Families in Nottingham are to receive more support over Christmas through as we prepare for another round of our Free Fun and Food holiday clubs.

As Nottingham City Council’s lead partner, we have organised a number of outdoor holiday activities across Nottingham. At these, pupils in receipt of free school meals will receive a free lunch, plus a programme of activities focused on healthy eating, fitness and mental health.

The project has been funded through an award from the Household Support Grant Scheme and the Holiday Activity Fund (HAF).

The £1.8m HAF grant was, through a bidding process, made available to community groups, charities and schools with the ability to deliver outdoor holiday activities in neighbourhoods across the city.

So far in 2022, Nottingham Forest Community Trust has seen over 10,000 children attend these clubs with participants also enjoying healthy, nutritious meals over the Easter, summer and October half-term holidays. The funding we’ve received from Nottingham City Council has now been used to deliver more activities during the Christmas holidays.

The HAF funding has been allocated from the Department for Education with certain criteria attached. This stipulates that the support for tackling holiday hunger should be through free school meals pupils attending holiday clubs.

Parents can book places by clicking here to see the list of clubs, venues and times.

There are also a limited number of places available for children who aren’t eligible for FSM and these will be allocated on a first-come-first-served basis.

Councillor Cheryl Barnard, Portfolio Holder for Children, Young People and Schools, said: “We understand how hard things have been for people in our city and so it is great news that pupils in need of help will be able to benefit from supermarket vouchers and activity clubs again this Christmas.

“The Council has made this support available throughout the year during school holidays, but this is a special time for children and their families. We want to help them in every way we can.

“Nottingham has around 15,000 children eligible for free school meals, and many of these families will already be feeling the strain because of the national cost-of-living crisis. It is right and proper that we are given this funding to ensure healthy meals for young people in need.

“I’d also like to take this opportunity to wish everyone in Nottingham a very merry Christmas and best wishes for the New Year.”

Calum Osborne, Deputy CEO of Nottingham Forest Community Trust, said: “We are delighted to work closely with Nottingham City Council to offer high-quality, enriching activities and healthy meals for children across the city as we come to the end of a hugely successful year of running this programme.

“By collaborating with the City Council, local community-based organisations and business, we can achieve so much more when we work together to positively impact thousands of children.”

Book your child onto a space here.