Extended Services Activities Fund Update

The Middleton Cluster was one of five areas chosen to pilot the Activities Fund in Leeds for 2009/10.

The cluster used some of this funding to put on a range of summer activities. Middleton Primary was chosen as a venue for most of the activities due to its central location and children and young people from all the Middleton schools were invited along. 

The Activities included five weeks of  Arts, Junior Jam multi sports, football and dance camps that ran from Monday to Friday. Local voluntary agency, Health For All were commissioned to organise a range of family events including fun days in Middleton woods, day trips to Bolton Abbey, Scarborough and a trip to a London theatre to see Billy Elliott.

Other Activities included kayaking, d-jing, bowling, media and journalism and lots if physical activities and sports. Positive feedback came for adults and children alike. One parent commented, “The family trips were fantastic; we couldn’t afford to go on holiday this year and wouldn’t have been able to get away without the trips.

A grandparent commented, “It’s been brilliant, my grandson has grown in confidence, learned new skills and made new friends, Middleton needs these activities every holiday.” 

One 14 year old boy enjoyed the activities so much he came every day to help with the younger children. He simply commented, “The activities have given me something to do and keep me off the streets, I have really enjoyed it”. The Middleton Cluster Summer Activity programme was a great success.