Fit for All enables 5000 disabled and vulnerable children and young people to take part in inclusive activities across Birmingham and in North Solihull during Easter, Summer and Christmas school holidays. It wouldn’t be possible without the support of: Government’s Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) fund (managed by the local councils in Birmingham and Solihull) and the active support of thousands of families who help raise funds and volunteer for local groups.
If you’re interested in volunteering or fundraising for the project, have a look at How to Help Out.
HAF funding helps children of school age (5-16 years) who are eligible for free school meals to get a healthy meal and take part in interesting activity for free over the school end-of-term holidays. Birmingham City Council – through Bring It On Brum (which is managed by the community sports charity Street Games) uses leeway in HAF funding to enable children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) to take part for free as well. HAF isn’t the only funding that goes into Fit for All, but it is the main chunk. That means Fit for All aims to provide activities in weekdays during main school holidays for children aged 5-16 who are eligible for Free School Meals and who have additional needs or who are vulnerable to being excluded for a particular reason.
We’re sorry that Fit for All doesn’t have enough spaces for all the SEND and vulnerable children and young people in the area. The local groups that provide sessions give customised support to participants – and it can take time to get to understand how best to support vulnerable young people and children with additional needs. For this reason, most Fit for All providers give priority to participants they already know.