2nd September 2022
Sanctuary
Families on low incomes in Banbury enjoyed fun days out during the summer break thanks to a project which also helped combat holiday hunger.
Play:Full saw children on free school meals and low income families go on day trips. They also got a healthy packed lunch to make sure they didn’t miss out on essential meals during the school holidays.
Banbury Youth and Community Enterprise was behind the scheme, which also received funding from Sanctuary and Cherwell District Council. The free weekly trips saw the families taken to Bournemouth, Science Oxford, and Cutteslowe Park in Oxford.
Director Selma Wakeman said: “Not every family can afford a holiday but this meant the children could go back to school talking about the fun time they had at the seaside and the park.
“At the same time, they were provided with a healthy packed lunch, to replace the lunch they would have had at school.”
Her team also provided lunches at several other holiday projects in the town, including circus skills days at a local school, where children were encouraged to try new foods including vegetarian options, and made fruit skewers and hummus dips.
Charlie Heritage, Neighbourhood Partnerships Manager for Sanctuary, added: “Holiday hunger is a real problem for too many children and we were happy to be able to support the Play:Full project, which also meant families didn’t miss out on fun family days out.”
