8/7/2021

Cardiff's multi-award winning school holiday enrichment programme (SHEP) will be rolled out to a record number of school children across the city this summer.

TheFood and Funscheme will be expanded to 29 schools, helping to ensure up to 1680 children can access an exciting programme of sport and educational provision, alongside healthy nutritious meals.

Now in its sixth year, the initiative provides opportunities for children to socialise, engage in physical activity and learn new skills provided by a range of city-wide partners, whilst helping toease the financial burden on families during the summer holiday period.

Cabinet Member for Education, Employment and Skills, Cllr Sarah Merry said: "The need for school holiday enrichment schemes has never been greater, with more families than ever feeling the effects of the pandemic, both socially and financially.

"It is reassuring that through additional Welsh Government funding, the programme can be extended to include communities beyond the traditionally, Welsh Government funded targeted areas, allowing our dedicated SHEP teams and partners across Cardiff, to help to make sure as many children as possible, can access the provision.

"Through partnership working, those children who will benefit most from the scheme, will enjoy a range of activities which they may not usually have the opportunity to take part in. They will also access at least one hour of physical activity, a healthy breakfast and lunch, and nutrition and food sessions each day, supporting a boost to their health and wellbeing."

TheFood and Funscheme was developed by Cardiff's SHEP team in 2015 and was adopted by Welsh Government and rolled out to the rest of Wales during the following two years. It has been used as an example of Best Practice and has led to Wales being recognised as having the most advanced holiday provision in the UK.

Cllr Merry added: "The idea behind the scheme is to provide children with fun education and sporting activity alongside quality, healthy meals which are delivered in a safe and nurturing environment during the school holidays.This year the scheme will be delivered in collaboration with Cardiff's Summer of Smiles, our city-wide programme of activity and events which aim to celebrate Cardiff's children and young people after the difficulties and challenges they have experienced during the last year or so."

Cardiff's Summer of Smiles is part of Cardiff Council's Child Friendly Recovery Programme. To find out more please visitwww.summerofsmiles.co.uk