THOUSANDS of children and young people across Cumbria enjoyed a summer of fun thanks to the Cumbria Holiday Activity programme.

Funded by the Department of Education’s Holiday Activity and Food Programme 2021 and administered by Cumbria County Council working with the Cumbria Youth Alliance, the Cumbria Holiday Activity programme provided free activities for families whose children receive benefits-related free school meals.

The programme supported 74 youth clubs, sports clubs, outdoor centres and other organisations to host hundreds of activities, giving young Cumbrians the opportunity to try something new and to have fun during summer break. The four-week programme of activities saw 5869 young people take part in activities across the county.

Focus is shifting to the upcoming winter holiday activity programme, where the enormous success of the summer programme will look to be built on.

Councillor Deborah Earl, cabinet member for communities and public health, said: “I was absolutely delighted to see so many of our county’s children and young people enjoying themselves this summer and having so many activities to choose from. The Cumbria Holiday Activity Programme was a welcome opportunity for so many families- to try new activities, learn new things and to take their minds off what has been such a difficult 18 months.”