SCHOOL holiday activities and support have been well received by many families across the borough.
Newly collated data and feedback about activities and support over the Easter break has revealed it was enjoyed and appreciated by parents, children, and families alike across the area.
A programme created by officers at Redditch Borough Council and led by the community safety team, sports and arts team, and the Starting Well Partnership, through Redditch Youth Providers Forum, worked to provide fun activities and support for families over the two-week break.
The project was supported by Worcestershire Children First and Ready Steady Worcestershire.
The team organised themed outdoor activities such as Easter egg hunts and orienteering, as well as providing support through schools for families who would normally receive free school meals.
Over the course of the school holiday, 3,000 Easter eggs were donated across Redditch and Bromsgrove which families could search for at six different organised ‘hunts’.
At Blackwell Adventure Outdoor Activity Centre between the two towns families could also take part in a variety of different sports and activities, supported by Redditch United and Redditch Hockey Club.
In a bid to help families enjoy Covid-safe outdoor activities, council officers also set up ‘Xplorer’ orienteering trails at Arrow Valley Park in partnership with British Orienteering.
One parent said: “Firstly, thank you so much for the Easter egg hunt, my boys loved it after such a horrible lockdown – it really made their day, thank you.
“My five-year-old son found a golden ticket in his egg and just that piece of paper alone has made him happy. I told him he had won a prize – he has asked if he could keep the ticket though!”
Alongside the fun activities, the team have also worked with 13 schools offering support for families in receipt of free school meals. 765 families benefited from a food hamper across both weeks of the holidays.
Community safety project officer, Sarah McIntosh, said: “I have to start by saying thank you to our amazing sponsors who provided the Easter Eggs!
“We would also like to thank the community volunteers and partners because without them this project wouldn’t have been as amazing as it was. We’re really proud of how successful it has been.”
