A range of free activities and meals for children will be running all across Bolton this summer.

This will be launched as part of this year’s Holiday Activities and Food programme, known as HAF, which supports 12,500 children across the borough.

It will include activities like forest schools, skate parks and cooking classes for children between four and 17 who are already in school and receive benefits related free school meals.

Bolton Council cabinet member for children’s services Cllr Martin Donaghy said: “The council is determined to support all children to get the best possible start in life and this scheme aims to relieve some of the burden that families are facing and help those who need it the most.

“We know that the school holidays can be a stressful time for some families, with holiday hunger a real challenge. 

A range of activities have been plannedA range of activities have been planned (Image: Bolton Council)

“The HAF programme means that children are fed and have something fun and positive to do in the holidays.”

The HAF scheme is ready to launched later on this month and has been organised by the council’s play and youth team.

To launch the programme, they have been working with partners including Bolton Wanderers in the Community, Urban Outreach, Bolton CVS and Bolton Together.

The scheme has run in previous years and has already proven to be a big hit with youngsters and their parents during the school holidays.

This year, sessions will start on Monday July 22 and will run for six weeks at various different locations across Bolton.

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They will include pop-up events at parks, taking place Tuesdays to Fridays at Moses Gate, Westhoughton Central, Moss Bank Park and Queens Park from 11am to 3pm. 

The council says that eligible children can get a meal and take part in the activities for four hours a day, four days a week, for up to four weeks.

All activities are optional and eligible families can still receive food packages from Urban Outreach regardless of whether they choose to take part in the activities.

Many activities are also open to all children.

More information can be found on the HAF section of Bolton Council’s website.