Inclusive play and youth services for disabled and vulnerable children will be running in Birmingham during the Easter school holidays. The Fit for All programme run by Children’s Quarter members successfully bid for just over £50,000 to run holiday activity and healthy food sessions across the city during the two week school break. The sessions will make up part of the city’s Bring It On Brum initiative which provides food and activities for children who are eligible for free school meals.
Easter School Holidays in Birmingham are from Monday 11 April to Friday 22 April inclusive. Fit for All inclusive sessions will be running in different locations on Monday 11-Thursday 14 April and Tuesday 19-Friday 22 April
CQ member groups and schools are using the money to offer inclusive sessions for disabled and vulnerable children in Sparkbrook; Erdington; Balsall Heath; Handsworth; Chelmsley Wood; Alum Rock; Selly Oak; Sutton Coldfield; Quinton; Stockland Green; Stirchley; Holyhead; Handsworth Wood; and Digbeth. Details are available from Fit for All.
Fit for All provides inclusive sessions with high staff ratios for disabled and vulnerable children. It’s part of the wider Bring it on Brum programme of holiday activities for children eligible for free school meals in Birmingham.
Groups delivering the sessions for disabled and vulnerable children and young people are: Ackers Adventure; Autis Birmingham; Balsall Heath CATS; Birmingham S.E.N.D Socials; Hamstead Hall Academy; Hamilton School; Meriden Adventure Playground; Norton Hall Children and Family Centre; Parks for Play; Resources for Autism; Seven Up Charity; Shining Stars Association; Square Peg Activities; and WE Are – women’s empowerment group. They are joined by Creative Active Lives, who will be providing many of the enrichment activities – anything from circus skills to yoga; and food social enterprise, Change Kitchen, who will be supporting the delivery of food and nutrition information.
Ramadan overlaps Easter holidays. Providers will send food home, where this is appropriate, as an alternative to providing healthy meals for children taking part in Fit for All.
The month of Ramadan, this year, coincides and overlaps the Easter holidays: many children and families will be fasting. Fit for All providers will be sending food home with children when that is appropriate, as well as providing healthy meals for those children who are not fasting. There will be more of an emphasis on food education and information for the whole family – which is an area in which Change Kitchen can help. Children’s Quarter members will be organising community lunches for families with disabled and vulnerable children later in the year as part of Fit for All.