This week saw the launch of Newcastle’s Best Summer Ever (NBSE). The NBSE programme will see Newcastle kids enjoying arts and crafts, sports and physical activities, and nutritious meals during the summer holidays.
It’s estimated that more than 26,700 children in Newcastle live in deprived areas and that 10,344 of these youngsters receive free school meals.
During the school holidays, families can struggle as they no longer have access to free school meals and breakfast clubs and this can result in children suffering from hunger and exhaustion. It is hoped that the NBSE scheme will help tackle these problems.
Newcastle’s Best Summer Ever kicked off on Tuesday with an event for 45 children at Blakelaw Community Centre.
The £1.1 million scheme – run by StreetGames in partnership with Newcastle City Council and funded by the Department for Education – will see a substantial programme of activities taking place all over Newcastle.
Healthy, good-quality food and information about nutrition will be provided at all of the NBSE events, courtesy of the School Meals Service and Fareshare.
Newcastle City Council’s cabinet member for communities, Cllr Clare Penny-Evans, said, “After so much planning it’s amazing to see Newcastle’s Best Summer Ever officially get under way.”
“The offer is open to all children and young people in the city and we are creating a programme that will suit everyone’s tastes and be fully inclusive – everyone taking part will get lunch and nutritional advice from our team of experts to keep them fuelled up during their chosen activities.”
“I hope everyone, from all communities and backgrounds, will really get on board and be a part of Newcastle’s Best Summer Ever and enjoy this fantastic opportunity.”
Leanne Risk, of the Newcastle Community Asset Trust which runs Blakelaw Community Centre, said, “Children and young people access our services regularly, but since getting involved with Newcastle’s Best Summer Ever through StreetGames we’ve been able to extend our provision.”
“We’re able to do more with the children, we’ve added staff and volunteers to support us and the meals we’re able to provide now are so much better.”
If you’d like to take part in Newcastle’s Best Summer Ever, you can sign up at events or learn more by going to the Active Newcastle Website.
You can follow NBSE on Twitter (@NBSE2019), on Facebook (NewcastlesBestSummerEver), and on Instagram (@newcastlesbestsummerever).
If you have any further questions about the programme, you can email bestsummerever@streetgames.org.
