Clarion Futures has awarded more than £8,000 to projects providing free activities for children in Fenland over the summer. Clarion Futures is the charitable foundation of Clarion Housing Group which owns and manages more than 4,100 homes across Fenland.
It has awarded £8,373 in funding to support three local projects offering free activities for children and young people over the summer.
The first organisation to be awarded funding is Wisbech-based People and Animals UK CIC who will be running a ‘Farm Friendships’ project providing animal and nature-based therapeutic opportunities and skills development activities, as well as working together to prepare healthy and nutritious meals.
Also based in Wisbech, REMO (formerly known as CCORRN: Cambridgeshire Community Reuse and
Recycling Network) will be using the funding to host Love2Create stay, make and play workshops at The REMO Eco-superstore wellbeing space, with the young people co-creating and enjoying healthy and nutritious meals.
Finally, FACT Community Transport will be running a mobile community hub over the summer holidays providing access to nutritious foods and offering healthier alternatives for young people, as well as engaging with them and encouraging them to be part of their community, allowing them to have a sense of belonging and pride.
This funding 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.
Across the country, 17 organisations have received more than £45,000 in funding through this new initiative.
Katie Bristow, Director of Operations at People and Animals UK CIC, said: “Clarion Futures has supported the growth of both our outreach and Wisbech Community Farm community and youth programmes since 2016.
“And we are delighted to be able to continue responding to the needs of our community, through this summer ‘Farm Friendships’ programme; where families and children can come together and grow new friendships whilst engaging with nature and animals together”
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 these three fantastic organisations to make a real difference in Fenland this summer and beyond.”
To find out more about the opportunities on offer and book places, for People and Animals please call 07541 402354 or email info@peopleandanimals.org.uk.
For more information on the REMO Love2Create Summer Programme, please call 07562 232831 or email wisbech@remo.org.uk.
And for FACT Community Transport, please call 01354 661234 or email info@cotransport.org.
