A NEW project is aiming to help families overcome the difficulties caused by the lack of free school meals during the holidays.
The Portadown Gets Active programme is designed to encourage children aged between 8 and 11 to continue taking part in physically energetic pursuits in the summer months.
It also helps them understand the importance of healthy living by providing them with the skills and confidence to cook simple nutritious meals on a budget.
The charity Children in Northern Ireland is running the scheme throughout August to support children in Portadown area.
It is being delivered in partnership with the community and voluntary sector, statutory agencies, schools and local government with additional support from Craigavon based Almac Group.
The programme is being held in Presentation PS to make the most of the school estate which would otherwise lie empty during the summer holidays.
It provides a healthy snack and lunch, but also gives children the opportunity to take part in a range of activities and gain an OCN qualification in Healthy Living. A total of 70 children are taking part in the programme with 20 older young people having already taken part in a mentoring programme.
Pauline Leeson, Chief Executive of Children in Northern Ireland said: "For some families, particularly those who receive free school meals, the school holidays can be a struggle.
"It's not just the increase in food cost but the pressures associated with keeping children active."
Alan Armstrong, CEO of Almac Group, said the opportunities created by the programme were to be greatly welcomed.
"It is great to see us all pull together to ensure these children receive the education and support they need to guarantee they have the skillset and ability to prepare decent, nutritious meals now and into the future," he said.
"We are proud to be supporting this initiative to help unlock the potential of all children and young people no matter where they grow up."
