What is Healthy Holidays(4-16 Years/Reception-Year 11)?

The Healthy Holidays program in Leeds, England has been running since 2017 in partnership with the Leeds City Council and provides food and activities for children during school holidays. The program is run by Leeds Community Foundation in partnership with Leeds City Council and the Department for Education’s Holiday Activities and Food Programme. It supports families on low incomes or benefits, whose children are eligible for free school meals, and some vulnerable children

In 2021, the Department for Education significantly increased funding and expanded the programme to all local authorities, in addition to committing to funding.

The programme provides activities and food over the Easter, Summer and Christmas holidays to children eligible for free school meals, and a small number of additional children who are otherwise vulnerable. Leeds City Council now leads the programme, in partnership with Leeds Community Foundation. Despite significant challenges posed by the pandemic and the rapid scheme expansion, Leeds has been able to maintain provisions successfully in all holiday periods permitted by the Department for Education.

Healthy Holidays projects provide a wide range of fun activities and nutritious food for children whose families may struggle during the school holidays annually with various types of physical activities like football, dance, trip to seaside etc, creative and life skills, children have the chance to try different things and make new friends.

In 2021 the Nigerian Yorkshire Communities Network UK CIC was invited to join the Leeds healthy holidays club providers through our first grant offer to deliver various activities for Easter,Summer and Christmas holidays for children eligible for free school meals,vulnerables and others, it was an opportunity for the organisation to expand the activities within the group, but most especially to start a Junior and Youth Club outdoor and indoor activities over the holidays period in Leeds, our organisation deliver up to date healthy holidays activities such as annual Easter activities such as coach trips to outdoors attraction places like  zoo,seaside,museums, funfair activities at the park, Swimming Sessions, Ten-Pin Bowling,Snooker,Amusement parks Trampoling,Laser Tag Games,Paint-balling Combat Games,Outdoor and Indoor Go-Karting Race Games,Dancing Sessions,Cooking Lessons, Christmas End Of The Year Party.

This has not only be possible solely by our organisation but by collaboration effort working with third party partners, charities and community groups within Leeds and Yorkshire, we also owe a huge thanks to all our wonderful volunteers supporting our programmes,projects and day to day activities, our organisation is making a huge positive difference in families and communities on the groud, and we took up this mission as add on to our aims and objectives such as the mobile food bank/ food share pantry community service as to continue to feed the community, fight food poverty and tackling food waste and the healthy holidays fit perfectly, we want to do more for the community and families, as we now have our community office center in Armley Leeds with the huge support and thanks from our sponsors like the Leeds Community Foundation, National Lottery Community Fund, Arnold Clark Community Fund, and food support from Fareshare, Neigbourly, Hamara and various food supplier in Leeds and Yorkshire.

What is the NYCN Kids & Youths Club(11-17 Years)? – STARTING SOON

Our organisation also will offers young people a safe space in their local community to come together to mix with their peers. It gives young people a sense of belonging in their community. It forges positive relationships/friendships with their peers and the leaders in the club.To promote the participation of youth in culture, sport and recreation activities.

Our aims and objectives plan is to engage and collaborate with various third party organisations,charities,schools and community groups to provide this weekly service to our youth within the community, our organisation is hugely passionate about our youth who are the leaders of tomorrow that would make a positive difference in the future, and having youth clubs will hugely benefit families, Youth clubs can help young people develop life skills, character, and social interaction. They can also help young people build self-esteem and confidence, and learn to manage their personal and social relationships, away from crimes,drugs and alcohol,Youth clubs can help young people feel more connected to their community. They can provide opportunities to volunteer, participate in community events, and get involved in local issues.