Decision

For the council to enter into a grant agreement with Gloucestershire County Council to receive £9,880 so that free activities and food can be provided to children and young people over October half term.

For the council to then enter into grant agreements with the providers listed in appendix A who will deliver the October half term programme. The activities will:

• Provide family activities in areas of most need through the Council’s Community Investment Team;
• Give families access to physical activities through the Cheltenham Trust; and
• Expand the Youth Café so young people have somewhere safe in the town centre to go during half-term.

All children and young people taking part in the activities will receive food while attending.

Appendix A:  Delivery partners for October half-term programme

Provider

Details

Amount

CBC Housing community investment team

Family activities in the Moors / St. Pauls and Oakley

£1,030

Smokey Joes

Venue hire and free food for 3 x extended youth cafe sessions and 1 additional session

£1,300

Cheltenham YMCA

Food provision

£500

The Cheltenham Trust

Use of Leisure-at for the following:

• 2 x soft play sessions
• 1 x pool session
• 1 x Halloween party

Plus all food provision

£3,390

The Rock and Springbank

Staffing for the youth cafe. Exact proportion for each provider to be worked out.

£1,500

KAM performing arts CIC

Performing arts workshop and open mic event at Smokey Joes

£760

TBA

Buying in activities for the youth cafe

£900

CBC

Staff time

£500

£9,880

Reasons for the decision

Offering this will help reduce financial pressure on families during this period by providing food and activities free. It will also reduce the additional pressure often faced by the community food infrastructure in Cheltenham during holiday periods.

The additional activities will also help reduce youth anti-social behaviour and exploitation risks over the holiday period especially in the town centre.

Alternative options considered

The council could not enter into the funding agreement however this would then mean children and young people with parents on low incomes would not have access to free activities and food during half term. This may lead to greater anti-social behaviour, exploitation or pressure on food pantries.