Healthy Holiday Lunch Clubs

Children at more than a dozen schools in West Berkshire will be able to eat a healthy lunch over the Easter holidays as part of a special education and activity programme.  West Berkshire Council has announced that 15 schools from across the district are taking part in the Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) Programme.

Pupils will go into their usual schools over the Easter break and enjoy a range of fun activities while learning about nutrition. The aim of the programme is to provide enriching, physical and nutritional activities to promote wellbeing. Children will learn about the benefits of ‘eating a rainbow’ of different foods and have the opportunity to take part in a Family Snack Challenge. There will also be some cookery demonstrations to provide practical knowledge around preparing and making food.

School holidays can be pressure points for some families because of increased costs and reduced incomes.  Holiday clubs like the ones that will be held at our 15 local schools are a response to this issue.

Dominic Boeck, West Berkshire’s Executive Member for Children, Young People and Education says;

These clubs will offer much more than lunch. They’ll also give children everyday nutritional tips that they can then take home with them. We’re one of just 17 local authorities around the country to take part in this Department for Education funded trial. We hope to expand this to more schools over the summer holidays.

Local parents are responding with interest. Dee Mountjack, from Thatcham, says

‘Talking to other parents, it sounds like a good idea. I want my kids to be healthy,.’ 

Further details will be available in the coming weeks from West Berkshire Council.