Free summer holiday club offered in Redbridge to help low income families

Sessions, including arts and crafts, are being held across 10 schools in the borough (credit: Piqsels)

A free children’s summer holiday club is being offered in Redbridge to help working parents and carers on low incomes.

Sessions are being held in 10 local school’s for children aged between 5 and 16, over four weeks in July and August.

Redbridge Council, who’ve organised the club, say priority will be given to children who receive free school meals although places will be allocated to others who apply, if space is available.

External partners will be running sport, art, music and drama activities across four hours each day, between 10am and 2pm, four days a week.

Sports activities include football, cricket, tennis, badminton, basketball, dodgeball, dance, boxercise, yoga and footgolf.

Also included are improvised games, arts and craft, music, and drama activities.

Activities for older children include public speaking workshops, financial management and careers advice.

The scheme has places for 1,155 children and each child will also be provided with a free lunch.

Cabinet Member for Children and Young People, Cllr Elaine Norman said: “We realise how difficult it can be for working parents and carers on low incomes to obtain childcare in school holidays.

“This free holiday scheme will be able to give further help to those parents and carers whose children receive free school meals.

“The scheme will be offering lots of different fun and educational activities for all kids aged 5 to 16 and those taking part will also receive a free lunchtime meal.”

Primary age children will be able to attend one of the following sites:
Cranbrook Primary School, The Drive, Ilford
Coppice Primary School, Manford Way, Chigwell
Fullwood Primary School, Burford Close, Barkingside, Ilford
Ray Lodge Primary School, Snakes Lane East, Woodford Green
South Park Primary School, Water Lane, Seven Kings, Ilford
Uphall Primary School, Uphall Road, Ilford
Woodlands Primary School, Loxford Lane, Ilford

Secondary age children will be able to attend one of the following sites:
Caterham High School, Caterham Avenue, Clayhall, Ilford
Loxford School, Loxford Lane, Ilford
Oaks Park High School, 45-65 Oaks Lane, Ilford

Parents and carers have until 5pm on Friday, 9 July to register their interest online.

For more on this story, and the latest on our other local and national news, listen to Time 107.5FM