Since 2018, Five Lamps have been delivering breakfast clubs throughout the school holidays, however, due to the unprecedented circumstances; the club had to be delivered a little differently this summer.
Each year, the number of families in Thornaby and surrounding areas attending the clubs has increased and it has become a well enjoyed part of the community.
It gives families a space to come together, enjoy a free breakfast and activities including, arts and crafts, dance lessons and cooking sessions.
The club has become an important part of many families’ lives and it allows them a space to meet new people, socialise with their friends and neighbours and also for many families helps relieve financial pressures of the school holidays.
To ensure the club could still open this summer, Five Lamps opted for a virtual delivery, it meant that each Monday the families would collect a bag of breakfast materials and also activities for the week. Each family then joined a secure Facebook group, where they could take part in live Bingo, Quizzes, planting sunflowers, cooking sessions and virtual dance lessons delivered by Urban Kaos.
The virtual club was a huge success and in total, 138 breakfast packs were collected, with just under 60 young people taking part in the activities.
Amy Richardson, Five Lamps Marketing and Campaigns Manager said;
“It’s great that we can continue to deliver this brilliant service, especially as we have seen first hand the positive impact it has on many families lives during the school holidays. We want the clubs to be more than just a holiday provision, we want to ensure that young people and their families can experience new fun activities, whilst coming together as a community”
Five Lamps were able to deliver the clubs after being successful in a bid to Stockton on Tees Borough Council Public Health’s holiday enrichment grant which was managed by Catalyst and by also receiving donations from Tesco Ingleby Barwick and ASDA Thornaby.
The next virtual club will take place in October half term, for more information, please contact amyrichardson@fivelamps.org.uk