Activity and holiday club programmes for children and young people in Northumberland have been given a boost.

Northumberland County Council have been awarded £1,029,980 as part of a nationwide investment of up to £220m to enable local authorities to run holiday programmes during the upcoming school summer holidays and during Christmas 2021.

Fully funded programmes mean children and young people will be able to take part in a range of activities including sport, music, dance, drama, cooking, art, and gardening.

The initiative is running alongside the £200m funding announced in February to provide summer schools to help pupils who have experienced the most disruption as a result of the pandemic.

Councillor Guy Renner-Thompson, cabinet member with responsibility for children and young people, said: “This funding will go a long way in supporting us to run activities that will give families the chance to enjoy time together and for our children and young people to take part in activities they wouldn’t ordinarily get a chance to take part in.

“It will also go along way in supporting even more children over the holidays with learning opportunities and healthy meals.”

Children and young people who attend will receive a healthy meal as part of the council’s wider commitment to ensure those who receive free school meals in term time continue to do so.