Over the past 20 months, Altrincham FC Community Sports have delivered the Department for Education’s (DfE) Holiday Activity Fund programme for children on free school meals. This project enabled them to provide a healthy lunch for all children that attended, along with four hours of physical activity each day.  

With funding provided by Trafford Council they were able to run the programme over the Summer holiday period of 2020, and each school holiday throughout 2021. Over 800 children accessed the programme over the various holidays and were able to enjoy fantastic, fun activities delivered by the coaching team, while also receiving a nutritious lunch. 

As is well known, the pandemic has had a particular impact on children, who were unable to mix with their friends and take part in their usual activities. Working with Trafford Council, Broomwood Primary School, Oldfield Brow Primary School and G Force (a voluntary community group based on Broomwood, working throughout the Altrincham area) they delivered this project, ensuring that children were able to enjoy much needed physical activity with their friends during the holidays.  

One of their participants said: “I absolutely loved the holiday camps with Altrincham in the Community. The coaches made the sessions really fun and it was great to be back playing sport with my friends. It was also great to meet some new friends from other schools. 

Altrincham FC Community Sports Trustee Pete Foster commented: “After a turbulent 18 months of lockdowns and uncertainty, it has been fantastic to be able to provide this funded programme for local children who have been so affected by the pandemic. The funding from Trafford Council has been very welcome along with their supportand we are looking forward to continuing this programme in future school holidays”