Leeds Community Foundation wins government cash for its Healthy Holidays Fund as families face 'catastrophic' effects of pandemic

The lockdown has presented one of the biggest challenges yet for the Healthy Holidays Fund, which has been co-ordinated by Leeds Community Foundation since 2017.

It means a rapidly adapted version of its usual Easter programme has effectively continued for more than two months and plans are now being drawn up for how its socially-distanced support can continue through the summer holidays.

Chief executive Kate Hainsworth said: “Clearly the pandemic and the experience of it shows how quickly things can go from steady as we go to very extreme challenges. For the families we’re speaking about, it’s catastrophic. They’re the ones that feel it the greatest.”

A £450,000 funding round – supported by Leeds City Council, the Direct Line Group, Jimbo’s Fund and the National Emergency Trust – allowed grants to go to community centres and others with strong connections in various neighbourhoods earlier in the lockdown, giving them the resources needed to provide food parcels and activity programmes.

Ms Hainsworth said: “Sometimes it can seem a bit confusing as to why people aren’t necessarily being bundled up by social services and that safety net – but of course people do slip through that.”

She said a lack of trust in the authorities can be among the barriers for some parents in seeking out help available.

"They’re working extremely hard but for very, very low pay," she said. "To have to ask for help, it’s almost worse than going without.

"There’s a lot of work we need to do as a society to understand that but, in the meantime, we want to make sure people are fed."

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The programme’s success in this regard comes in large part from the 40 or so organisations working at neighbourhood level who would usually host community events throughout the holidays and are now taking meals and activity packs out to people’s doorsteps.

Ms Hainsworth said: “These community organisations and groups are really trusted because they are there day in and day out.

"They understand. They’ve absolutely walked in the same shoes as they people who are turning to them for help. That shared understanding and trust is fundamental.”

The foundation is among the organisations chosen to distribute £9m pledged by the Government through its Holiday Activities and Food programme.

Focusing on 17 local authority areas, it will provide free holiday activities and meals to around 50,000 disadvantaged children across the country in the approaching summer break.

Here in Leeds, it means around £450,000 will be made available to help continue the work that has already been taking place.

“It’s about so much more than just making sure families are fed during the long holidays,” Ms Hainsworth said. “It’s providing quality activity during those holidays so that everybody has a chance to experience a healthy holiday, constructive holidays, memories that they can look back on with pride.”

With the continued support of other charitable funds and individual philanthropists, the Foundation is also looking ahead to the autumn and winter months when many families will still be in need of support.

Ms Hainsworth added: “Turning things around doesn’t happen in a summer. We can make an amazing difference but it would be naive to think deeper issues would be solved in a matter of weeks. It’s a long term thing. We’re in it for the long term.”

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