00:00Families across Liverpool will breathe a sigh of relief after a vital programme providing access to healthy food has been protected by the government for a further three years.
00:10The Holiday Activities and Food Programme provides healthy meals, enriching activities and free childcare places to children from low-income families, benefiting their health, well-being and learning.
00:21The programme was launched nationwide in 2021 and is now delivered in every local authority in England.
00:27In Liverpool, the scheme is coordinated by Mergeside Play Action Council and Liverpool Council.
00:34Last year, 13,500 children and young people benefited from taking part in the programme, with over 240,000 meals being provided and over 99,000 activity places offered that they would otherwise not have access to.
00:49Beth Bradshaw at Feeding Liverpool Independent Food Charity said the government's support would come as a welcome announcement for city families.
00:57The school holidays are a well-known pinch point for families, in particular those in receipt of free school meals, who have to find the means to supplement their child's school lunch at the same time as managing the rising cost of essentials.
01:11A nationwide evaluation of the programme has highlighted its value in improving children's and young people's diets and expanding their access to enriching physical activities, while simultaneously helping to ease financial pressures and enhance the well-being of parents and carers.
01:26The State of Health in Liverpool 2040 report found 24,000 children were living in relative poverty.
01:35Pressure has been building over the last few months for the government to confirm the future of the scheme, with the funding originally set to end in March 2026.
01:44Pressure has found 26,000 people are changing theirch everything that filed for the Fleas and C
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