Ceredigion County Council website

This year, Ysgol Comins Coch, Ysgol Gymunedol Plascrug, Ysgol Llwyn yr Eos, Ysgol Bro Pedr, Ysgol T Llew Jones and Ysgol Gynradd Aberteifi all hosted the programme in their schools during the summer holiday. 

The Food and Fun Scheme, a WLGA grant funded initiative, is a school-based education programme that provides food and nutrition education, physical activity, enrichment sessions and healthy meals free of charge to children and young people across Wales during the summer holidays. 

The six schools worked in partnership with Ceredigion County Council and Hywel Dda Health Board’s Dietetic Team, to welcome over 200 children along with their families to the scheme during the summer. The scheme ran for three weeks, offering an exciting timetable of activities and healthy meals to the children. At the end of every week, families had the opportunity to join their children at the school for a family lunch. Pupils took part in activities such as football, multi-sports, hockey, rugby, cricket, dance, arts and crafts, swimming, food tasting, nature crafts, gardening, play, meeting birds of prey and more. 

Councillor Wyn Thomas, Ceredigion’s Cabinet Member for Schools, Lifelong Learning and Skills, said: “I had the opportunity to visit three of the Food and Fun Schemes during the summer and it was fantastic to see the children having so much fun and family lunch was also a success. The scheme offered a range of opportunities for children to have fun, socialise and learn about their health and wellbeing. This scheme has proved successful in bridging the gap for many pupils over the summer holiday and it is good to see the scheme grow from one school last year to six taking part this year, with so many children and young people benefitting.”

Mr Berian Lewis, Ysgol Gymunedol Plascrug Head Teacher said: “It was great to be able to offer the Food and Fun scheme to Ysgol Plascrug pupils during the summer holiday this year. It was also nice to welcome some of our families to join the children for family lunches as part of the scheme, and the children enjoyed a nutritious breakfast and lunch each day. The summer holiday can often feel like a long time for children and therefore we saw the value in delivering this scheme to families. Pupils in years 2 to 5 had the opportunity to learn new skills and gain new experiences with their peers. The staff organised a whole host of interesting activities for the children including planting herbs and vegetables, learning about the environment with West Wales River Trust, music workshops, food tasting games and a variety of sports.”

A pupil who attended one of the schemes said: “I have really had a lot of fun. My skills have really improved coming here. It just made me happy and it’s fun. We all love it here. I know alot of friends and I learnt alot about fruit.”

One parent said: “A lovely idea! The children have enjoyed it thoroughly. The family lunch gave a real sense of community to finish.”

Another parent stated: “This scheme has been brilliant. My son has had a lovely time and it has kept him busy. He has loved having the chance to go swimming every week, and to play lots of sports and do new activities.”

Salim Aroussi, Food and Fun Coordinator at Ysgol Bro Pedr said: “I’m really proud to have been able to be a part of the first Food and Fun project at Ysgol Bro Pedr. It was a fantastic experience that achieved everything it set out to and more. The feedback received from the children that took part, the families that were supported and got involved, the staff who helped run it, and the wider community has been incredibly positive, and we really look forward and hope to do it all again next year.”

The Council would like to thank all the providers who were involved in the activities, the Local Authority's Catering Service for preparing healthy and tasty meals each day, and to the six schools and their staff who ran the programme, for their hard work in organising this valuable opportunity for their pupils in their communities. 

To learn more about the national Food and Fun Scheme, visit www.wlga.wales/food-and-fun-school-holiday-enrichment-programme