Teesside Academy of Gymnastics in Newport hosted a Holiday Activities and Food Programme (HAF) showcase on Monday where the town’s Mayor described the venue as “inspiring”.

The Mayor welcomed Education Minister, Catherine McKinnell MP, to the gym in Newport while around 40 children were taking part in a session.

The minister was introduced to Newport Primary School Headteacher Tricia Maxwell and Brendan O’Brien, director and head coach at the academy. The school works in partnership with the academy to run the camps which offer an introduction to gymnastic skills in a specialist environment.

Bring it on Boro, Middlesbrough’s HAF programme, is offering a total of 27,000 places via 50 different providers during July and August.

Mayor Cooke said: “Bring it on Boro offers so many opportunities for our young people during the school holidays.

“The exciting sessions help keep children active and also give them access to healthy food at a time when they don’t get their school dinner.

“The academy has a proud history of helping to produce brilliant gymnasts. It’s an inspiring place and HAF opens the doors to kids who wouldn’t normally come here – they’ll definitely want to come back.”

Catherine McKinnell, Minister for School Standards, said: “When I visited Teesside Academy of Gymnastics, the children told me directly how much the HAF Programme helps them learn new skills, take part in activities such as reading and gymnastics and make friends.

“HAF is an absolutely vital part in delivering our Plan for Change, helping parents save money during the school holidays with free childcare and provide children with enriching activities and healthy meals.

“This is just one of the levers we are using to tackle child poverty, working alongside the expansion of free school meals to all children in households on Universal Credit, free breakfasts in primary schools and 30 hours of government-funded childcare from this September putting up to £7,500 a year
back in parents’ pockets.”

Mayor Cooke is using Council funding to extend the HAF programme into half-term holidays when the sessions wouldn’t ordinarily run.

He’s also launched 10 x 10, a pilot programme that will ensure all pupils at five primary schools get to enjoy 10 childhood experiences before the age of 10.

It’s hoped the scheme helping arrange access to things like swimming lessons, live music and trips to the countryside will be extended to all children. HAF is funded by the Department for Education (DfE) to support children aged 5 to 16 who get benefit-related free school meals.

In Middlesbrough, thousands of other places are also available to those who don’t meet the DfE criteria.

To book onto remaining sessions this summer visit the Bring it on Boro portal.