HAVING the children at home for half-term school breaks can create problems for working parents and many ways have been tried in South Cumbria to organise fun group activities to help them.

The Mail, on Friday, February 16 in 2001, described a pilot project to set up a holiday club in Barrow during a school break.

It noted: “About 30 children, aged 11 to 14, attended the half-term holiday club on Wednesday in the Territorial Army centre in Holker Street and yesterday at the Lakeside outdoor activities centre.

“It was organized by the Cumbria Out of School Network which was set up to develop out of school provision to meet the needs of children and their parents in Cumbria.

“It helps people in the community set up breakfast clubs,after school-type clubs and holiday clubs while parents or carers get the chance either to work and earn or to go on training courses.

“Its staff can help local people tap in to New Opportunities funding and to create jobs for carers needed to run the clubs.

“The pilot programme in Barrow was staged to raise awareness in people who might need to break out of the constraints of caring for children before and after school hours.

“The networks are also seen as possible compensation for children who do not mix out of school as much as children once did because of road traffic fears and dangers from strangers.”

The Mail, on Monday, February 24 in 2003 noted: “A group of Ulverston youngsters enjoyed an arts and crafts activity day held during the half-term holidays at the town’s Dale Street Community Centre.

“Around 24 boys and girls, aged eight to 12, rolled up their sleeves and learned a range of skills at the day organized by the Cumbria Association for Clubs for Young People.

“They tried their hand at learning skills with Berserkus Circus, making masks under the tuition of volunteer leaders and a range of other activities.

“The youngsters took part in drumming workshops, while Emma Bartlett, from Grizedale Forest Arts, showed the children how to print t-shirts.”