Bath Rugby Foundation is helping some of the city’s most vulnerable children and young adults fall back in love with Christmas by delivering ‘Christmas Break Out’ - a magical and nurturing holiday programme full of the festive spirit.
'Christmas Break Out' has been developed to allow children, young people and their families to enjoy together, vital nutrition for body and mind through healthy meals and fun mood-boosting games and activities, in a safe and festive environment.
DONATE £5 TO SUPPORT CHRISTMAS BREAKOUT
TEXT BATH TO 70085
Families can sign up to a series of sessions that are running throughout December in Bath and surrounding areas such as Keynsham, Midsomer Norton and Combe Down. All families, with children up to age 14 are welcome at ‘Christmas BreakOut’ where they will find a safe and joyful space to play and spend time together.
The Christmas camps are especially focused on supporting families who are entitled to receive free school meals and those that have found lockdown challenging due to being significantly effected by the economic and social impact of the pandemic.
Lynne Fernquest, Bath Rugby Foundation, CEO commented;
“Christmas is a time of year where our hearts are full, and many people try to help those most in need. This year, that need is the largest it’s ever been. Thousands of families in Bath and beyond face their toughest times yet after a year of redundancy and health worries caused by the pandemic. Child poverty is now on the precipice of becoming a national crisis as over 8,000 children in Bath alone are reported to have fallen below the poverty line this year.
“Knowing this and the pressure this time of year brings, we reached out to our community to harness our collective power, and direct this toward the children and young people who are in most need.”
All ‘Christmas BreakOut’ activities will be centred around food and nutrition and camps will also offer families the opportunity to take part in a range of sports including; Rugby, Football, Target and Boccia as well as the option of enjoying some fun arts and crafts.
At the end of each camp, each family will be offered a nutritious hot meal to take home with them to enjoy as a family, as well as a food parcel to enjoy over the festive period.
DONATE £5 TO SUPPORT CHRISTMAS BREAKOUT
TEXT BATH TO 70085
Why have Bath Rugby Foundation developed ‘Christmas BreakOut’?
In the most deprived areas across Bath, 54 percent of students attending local primary schools receive free school meals and are supported through Pupil Premium for extracurricular activities and support. During the school holidays, families can feel a lot of pressure to keep their children busy and provide the additional meals that are required each day.
Vulnerable families do not always have a ‘holiday experience’ and these camps, held within the participants own communities, are designed to support, educate and signpost them to vital services while having fun.
Additional support services such as food banks often see an 11% spike during these times, this is likely to be even higher this year so this is where we aim to offer help and support.
WANT TO TAKE PART?
Christmas Break Out Family Camps are held after school and during school holidays, in partnership with other organisations to ensure the provision of healthy, low-cost meals and fun activities.
Christmas Break Out starts on Monday, 7th December and runs through until Tuesday 22nd December.
Camp dates, locations & times
This year the camps will be held at:
- Castle Primary School in Keynsham (BS31 2TS)
- Combe Down RFC, Bath, (BA2 5DE)
- Welton Rovers FC in Midsomer Norton, (BA3 4QD)
Places are limited (Bookings will be confirmed by the BRF Team via email or phone)
After School Camps
- Monday 14th December – 4-6pm Castle Primary, Keynsham
- Tuesday 15th December – 4-6pm, Combe Down RFC, Bath
- Wednesday 16th December – 4-6pm, Welton Rovers FC, Midsomer Norton
Christmas School Holiday Camps
- Monday 21st December – 10 - 1pm, Castle Primary, Keynsham,
- Tuesday 22nd December 10 - 1pm, Combe Down RFC, Bath
- Tuesday 22nd December 10 - 1pm, Welton Rovers FC, Midsomer Norton
