Parents and carers across Essex may be eligible to benefit from government funded holiday clubs for children and young people during the summer break!

This summer Active Essex, Essex County Council and Thurrock Council are supporting families across Essex, by running free Essex ActivAte clubs for children who may not otherwise have the opportunity to attend a summer club.

Each club is run by a trusted local organisation, providing a safe and fun environment for children to not only get active, but also take part in a variety of creative and nature-based activities to support their mental wellbeing. Clubs also provide a tasty and nutritious meal for every child, as well as teaching children about food and nutrition through fun activities, such as cooking, gardening and art.

All Essex ActivAte clubs are inclusive, with trained SEND and Mental Wellbeing ambassadors at each club. However, Essex County Council also recognise that some children require additional support, and as such the Essex ActivAte team are working with specialist organisations to deliver SEND and Mental Wellbeing Hubs for children who require additional support.

When clubs kicked off on Monday 26th July, Councillor Louise McKinlay (Essex County Council Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Communities, Partnerships, Equality & Performance) and Anton Ferdinand (former professional football player and Active Essex Board Member) joined the Achieve Thrive Flourish (ATF) team at Briscoe Primary School in Basildon to see their club in action.

For a quick taster of what to expect this summer, click on the video below.

Spaces within Essex ActivAte clubs are funded by The Department for Education and are open to those who are eligible for benefits based free school meals. In addition, Essex County Council has extended the offer to include children from low income working families, as they recognise these families would also benefit from this support.

If your children are eligible, head to www.activeessex.org/essex-activate to find out about clubs in your area.