Extra funding to support children over the summer holidays in Wrexham

An extra £2.6 million is to be invested in support for children in Wrexham and across Wales during the summer holidays.

The funding will help local authorities provide childcare and play provision over the summer and enable children aged five to 16 to take part in activities they may have missed out on while they couldn’t go to school during the lockdown.

The extra funding will come from two sources – £1.6m will be made available from the local authority emergency hardship fund to support local authorities to provide childcare and play provision.

£1m will be provided from the education budget to help children and young people re-engage with education over the summer, giving them the opportunity to take part in activities they might have missed out on while not at school such as socialising with their peers and physical activity.

Free school meals will also continue to be available for all eligible children over the summer holidays – Wales was the first UK country to make this commitment.

Lesley Griffiths, Wrexham’s Member of the Senedd, has welcomed the Welsh Government’s latest announcement.

She said: “Marcus Rashford’s sterling work and high-profile campaign for free school meals placed the issue firmly in the spotlight and ultimately forced the UK Government to U-turn last month.

“The fact is, in Wales, the Welsh Labour Government announced in April it would guarantee funding to ensure all eligible children continue to receive free school meals throughout the summer holidays.

“The health and welfare of children is of paramount importance and improving the provision of free school meals is something I have fought for here in Wrexham.”

“This latest announcement demonstrates once again the Welsh Government will do all it can to support the most vulnerable in our society.

“Children have missed out on a significant amount by not being in school during this challenging period and this funding will aim to target those most in need.”