Free sessions and activities will be provided for children during the Christmas school holidays at venues across South Ribble.

Activities include forest school with fun games, activities and toasted marshmallows around a fire, intensive swimming sessions, family swimming sessions, tennis coaching, gymnastics coaching, kickboxing, quizzes and much more.

Sessions are proving popular, with the free Christmas family pantomime already fully booked. The performance of Aladdin is set to be enjoyed by audiences at South Ribble Tennis and Fitness Centre.

All activities can be booked online in advance by parents of children on free school meals, but if there is availability on the day all children are welcome to join in.

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Councillor Mick Titherington, Cabinet Member for Health, Wellbeing and Leisure at South Ribble Borough Council, said: “Christmas school holidays can be a stressful time for some families due to increased food and childcare costs, not to mention the gifts to buy and activities to plan.

“With Christmas around the corner and the current cost of living crisis, it can mean that families struggle to provide for children during the school holiday.

“We want to ensure that all children can enjoy sport, activities and good food this school holiday, and we hope our programme will add some Christmas cheer for all to enjoy”.

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The Holiday Activity and Food Programme (HAF) is a national, Government funded scheme that has been supporting families and children in the school holidays.

HAF has been running in South Ribble since the summer holiday of 2021. The programme provides free enriching activities and healthy food in the main school holidays to children on benefits-related Free School Meals.

More information can be found on the South Ribble Borough Council website.

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