The University of Bolton has come to the aid of the Anderton Centre to help provide school holidays provisions.
The university has loaned the Anderton Centre – which provides water and land-based outdoor learning activities – a minibus in order to transport young people to and from its remote High Rid location reservoir near Lostock.
The Anderton Centre has been directly commissioned by Bolton Council to deliver activities as part of its Holiday Activities & Food (HAF) Programme.
The HAF Programme is funded by the Department for Education and co-ordinated locally by Bolton Council.
It supports children and families on benefits related Free School Meals with "free fun, creative sessions offering sports, games, physical activity and food for a minimum four hours a day, four days a week" during the summer holidays.
The £1.5m funding from the Department of Education means that everything is provided for free.
The project also promotes healthy eating, and has garnered the support of Marcus Rashford, The Food Foundation, National Food Strategy, The Food People, Fix Our Food and many of the partnered facilities, parents, guardians, and children across the country.
Bolton Council requested that due to the remoteness of High Rid, Anderton should include transport as part of their offer.
The Anderton Centre approached the University for support, which they did through the use of one of their minibuses – the Anderton Centre is part of the University of Bolton Group.
David Germain, CEO at Anderton, said: “We were struggling to source a vehicle for this year’s programme, and it was looking like we might not be able to facilitate the programme.
“We are extremely grateful to The University of Bolton for the loan of their vehicle.
"This will allow us to deliver to 320 young people over the next four weeks. Otherwise, many would simply not have had these opportunities.”
The Anderton Centre’s programme delivers physical activities linked to social wellbeing, helping to connect and rebuild social skills and offer inclusive activities for young people.
The programme also supports emotional wellbeing and mental health through activities that develop and grow aspirations and cultivate vital life skills such as teamwork, confidence and self-esteem and creativity.
Activities include sailing, raft building, giants stand up paddle boarding, sit on top kayaking, rafted canoeing, orienteering and problem solving.
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