Bath Rugby is helping some of the city’s most vulnerable children and young adults recover from the mental and physical effects of the Covid-19 lockdown with fun and free summer camps.
Summer Break Out is a series of free camps for children and young people which provide vital nutrition for body and mind through healthy meals and mood boosting sporting activities.
The initiative has been led by Bath Rugby’s charity, Bath Rugby Foundation.
Bath Rugby Foundation CEO, Lynne Fernquest said: “We knew that the children and families we work with would suffer greatly and we wanted to explore options for helping people as soon as we could.”
“We know that, with one in five children living in poverty, there were already huge problems for young people to overcome. This crisis has only made things worse.
“The impact of Covid-19 is not equal – it has hurt the poorest in society the most. Vulnerable children have lost free school meals, lost free sport and physical activity, lost structured education and lost their support network.
“Struggling families and children who need the most support are barely surviving with food banks domestic abuse helplines and frontline charities reporting massive spikes in demand.”
Summer Break Out is helping children and young people, as well as their families, to enjoy themselves once again by hosting games and activities in a safe environment. Crucially, they are also able to enjoy a free and nutritious healthy cooked meal.
Bath Rugby Foundation understood during the early stages of the Covid-19 crisis exactly how the lockdown and school closures would impact the poorest in our city. Through its important family and employability programmes, Eat Active and Advantage, it also understood that positive mental and physical health lay at the heart of how children, young people and their families could then start to recover.
Summer Break Out delivers programmes for young children (under 14) and their families, teenagers (aged 14 to 17) and older teenagers and young adults (aged 18 and over).
Lynne Fernquest added; “Summer Break Out would not have been possible without the collaboration of over 30 local Bath based businesses, schools, clubs and charities. The support ranges from a vital financial contribution to offers of expertise and spaces to host sessions. We are humbled by the way our city has pulled together in this time of great, great need.”
Thank you to our partners and sponsors for aiding the Summer Break Out initiative:
Bath Rugby, Prior Park College, Bath Recreation, Bath College, Quartet Community Foundation, Youth Connect South West, St Michaels Junior Church School, St Nicholas Primary School, Castle Primary School, Welton Rovers FC, Midsomer Norton Council, Thrings, Irwin Mitchell, Bath Area Play Project, Bath City Football Foundation, B&NES Public Health, Feeding Britain, St John's Foundation, Live Learn Cook, Curo, Future Bright, Fareshare, Family Action, B&NES 3SG and Edwards and Ward along with a number of private individuals, all signed up to deliver and support Summer Break Out.
To join a Summer Break Out camp head over and book your place.
Summer Break Out’s three groups
Eat Active (for young children and their families)
This group focuses on families, healthy eating and cognitive development through growth mindset principles of learning in a camp designed to bring families support. Key fundamental movement and vital social skills are developed through fun sport and crafts workshops, games and mentoring.
Camps run for four hours (with families allocated a one-hour timeslot), four days a week and provide a healthy hot meal, art/craft and sport.
These sessions build on Bath Rugby Foundation’s existing, successful Eat Active programme.
Location: Twerton, Midsomer Norton, Keynsham.
Young teens (ages 14-17)
This group focuses on teens, giving them a sense of purpose and belonging in their community. Mental and physical health issues will be explored in a positive environment.
Bath is in the worst one per cent in the country for antisocial behaviour so teens are offered career advice and discussions about the next steps available to them.
Location: Bath, Midsomer Norton
Advantage (ages 18+ & NEET)
This group focuses on young adults aged 18+ who are ‘not in education, employment or training’, supporting them in building confidence and providing a network to lean on. It includes homeless young people, those living in sheltered accommodation and those with special educational needs.
Camps run for five hours, two days a week. Week one concentrates on creating a team environment before an overnight residential, taking the young adults out of their comfort zone, supporting them to build new connections.
Weeks three to six will focus on team building, character development, social action, work experience and career advice.
These camps build on the work of the well-established Bath Rugby Foundation programme Advantage, delivered in partnership with Bath College.
Location: Bath Rec Sports Hub
Additional Information
Each group enjoys suitable age-appropriate activities, including family games for the youngest, return to school preparation for the teens and CV building and life skills for the young adults. Every participant receives free food at every session.
Each session also follows strict safety guidelines and advance booking is essential.
