Clarion Futures, the charitable foundation of Clarion Housing Group, has awarded £45,173 in funding to support projects across the country offering free activities for children and young people over the summer.
This announcement comes as research published by Coram Family and Childcare* found that holiday childcare costs in Great Britain have risen by 6% since last summer, with working parents now facing an average bill of £175 per child per week – over £1,000 for the six-week break.
The report also revealed growing shortages of holiday childcare, with drops across all categories of provision in England over the last year.
Launched as a way to help tackle these twin challenges, the Summer Activities Grant Programme offered grants of between £1,000 and £3,000 to organisations based in Clarion communities delivering free activities for children and young people aged 11-18 through the summer holidays.
17 organisations have received funding through this grants programme including:
- Fenland-based social enterprise People and Animals UK CIC who will be delivering a ‘Farm Friendships’ project providing animal and nature-based therapeutic opportunities and skills development activities
- Bentswood Community Partnership in Haywards Heath who will be providing weekly sessions for children, specifically those with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), on growing vegetables and simple cooking. This will encourage healthy eating, help parents and carers spend less on their weekly shop and also build self-confidence in the young people
- Edgware-based charity Keep Rolling Project (see main image) who will use the funding to run a project empowering young people from diverse, low-income backgrounds combining skateboarding with architecture through hands-on workshops to design multi-functional public amenities, exploring potential careers in architecture, design and urban planning
Other organisations to be awarded funding include Bradford-based charity e:merge for whom the grant will help cover the costs associated with running an activity programme for up to 200 young people.
The charity has worked with local young leaders to design a programme comprising a week of activities in the local park including sports, arts and crafts and music; a week of sports coaching and competition; a three-day field trip to the coast full of teambuilding and fun; and a range of day trips, walks, cycle rides and visits to places of interest, including activities preparing for Bradford 2025 UK City of Culture.
Andy Sykes, CEO of e:merge, said: “I’d like to say a big thank you to Clarion Futures for the funding they’ve given us.
“The positive activities on offer through our programme will reduce the boredom which some young people feel over the summer holidays and provide opportunities which are accessible to all, regardless of financial situation.
“As well as having fun, we’re hoping that the young people will come away from our activities having learned all sorts of skills and with a renewed sense of confidence and positivity which will support them on their return to school in September.”
Matt Parsonage, Head of Communities at Clarion Futures, said: “We know that the school holidays can be pressure points for many families, with children from lower income households often left behind when it comes to access to experiences and opportunities.
“This combined with growing shortages of holiday childcare means that working parents are often in need of a helping hand when summer rolls around.
“That’s why we’ve launched this new grants programme to provide opportunities for children and young people living in Clarion communities, and we’re delighted to be working with so many fantastic organisations to make a real difference this summer and beyond.”
Main image: Edgware-based charity Keep Rolling Project
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