YOUNG people can enjoy free activities in Wiltshire during the Easter holidays as the successful FUEL programme returns for this year.

The Wiltshire Council-run Holiday Activity and Food programme, FUEL, is returning following the success of the activities delivered last year.

FUEL (Food, Unity, Energy and Laughter) is funded by the Department for Education (DfE) and provides eligible children with free access to activity, food and nutritional education during school holidays.

The council will be working with a range of community organisations to provide free activities, nutritional meals and food workshops for children eligible for the programme, including multi-sports, robotics, animal care, gymnastics, forest school, performing arts and creative arts.

The following organisations will be providing activities across the county this Easter:
ActiveMe360
Dayla Equine Assisted Learning and Monksley Ltd
Revolution Performing Arts Ltd
ElevationX
The Pound Arts Trust
PH Camps
Next Thing Education
West Wilts Gymnastics
Sam Ivin Photography
Wiltshire Outdoor Learning Team
UK Futures
Magna Learning Partnership
Seeds4Success

In addition to the above activities, the council will once again be offering provision specifically for individuals with SEND, which will take place in Corsham and Salisbury.

Cllr Ian Blair-Pilling, cabinet member for public health, said: “It is really positive that we have once again been allocated government funding to deliver the FUEL programme in 2024 during the Easter, Summer and Christmas school holidays.

“We know that the school holidays can be pressure points for some families because of increased costs.

“FUEL aims to tackle the triple inequalities of holiday hunger, physical inactivity, and social isolation. It provides free of charge activities and food for children and young people who are of school age up to the end of Year 11 and eligible for the programme, and they all have a lot of fun together.”

Cllr Laura Mayes, cabinet member for children’s services, education and skills, added: “I am delighted that the FUEL programme will continue to provide children with opportunities to have the best start in life during 2024.

“In 2023, nearly 18,500 meals were provided for just over 2,000 children attending FUEL activities. We hope that those eligible will take advantage of the programme and that it helps as many families as possible at a particularly busy time of the year.”

Bookings can be made and managed through the council’s centralised booking system, with registration open until March 27.

For more information and details of how to request a place, log on to wiltshire.gov.uk/leisure/fuel-programme.