Summer of Play launches early in west Norfolk with discounts across activities

Summer of Play launches early in west Norfolk with discounts across activities

Free and low cost activities for children and young people in West Norfolk.

Alive West Norfolk and the Borough Council of King's Lynn & West Norfolk have teamed up to pledge support for the Summer of Play. They are also working with Norfolk County Council and Active Norfolk on the Big Norfolk Holiday Fun programme to provide holiday activities and meals to families eligible for means tested free school meals.

Cllr Stuart Dark, MBE, Leader of the Borough Council of King's Lynn & West Norfolk, said: "It is widely known that our children and young people have had a very tough time over the last year and a bit, with the school life disrupted, challenges to social interaction with friends and limited opportunities to get out and play with sports clubs and activities closed.

"By teaming up with Alive West Norfolk and Norfolk County Council, we are able to offer them a wide range of activities that are either low cost or no cost. We have made a conscious decision to go beyond the suggestions of the Summer of Play campaign, which is about promoting our free play opportunities. We have added in low cost opportunities across many activities that enable more families to take part who otherwise might be unable to, and we are starting the programme early and extending concessionary leisure cards to more people to maximise discounts.

"We think it is really important to recognise the impact that Covid has had on our great young people, and this is us doing just that, giving them something that might help them have fun, socialise and be more active."

Neil Gromett, Managing Director of Alive West Norfolk, said: "We already had our summer activities programme set out, but by teaming up with both the Borough Council of King's Lynn & West Norfolk, Norfolk County Council and Active Norfolk, we are able to expand what we are able to offer and reduce the costs even further. There will be fun sessions at just £1, reduced to 50p for those eligible for an Alive Card Concession, and many families will qualify under the Big Norfolk Holiday Fun programme for free activities which include a meal and nutritional advice. We will be accepting bookings for all of our activities from 28 June 2021, with the booking system going live today. The Big Norfolk Holiday Fun programme begins in July, with bookings being taken from 1 July. We also have our usual holiday clubs which run through the school holiday period and feature a range of activities each day."

In addition to the free and low cost activities and the Alive Holiday Club activities at the Alive West Norfolk venues in Hunstanton, King's Lynn and Downham Market, the council is keen to promote opportunities for free play within its network of play areas across the borough, in its parks and also on the beach in Hunstanton.

Summer of Play is a campaign run by Play England and a host of other organisations and it is encouraging other organisations to take the pledge to enable all children in our communities to have space and time for play this summer. 

At Alive West Norfolk, the activities on offer include: swimming aged 19 and under, KASET Skatepark aged 6-18, Tumble Teds aged 5 and under, Alive Adventures soft play aged 10 and under, Roller skating aged 3-18. Children under the age of 11 must be supervised by a responsible adult.

Whether opting for the £1 sessions (50p with concession Leisure Card), the holiday clubs, or the Big Norfolk Fun programme for eligible families, booking is essential as places will be offered on a first come, first served basis.

Activities vary in each location. See website for details and booking arrangements, plus information on what to wear and what to bring. Age limits and terms and conditions apply which can be viewed on the website. Booking opens for Summer of Play and Holiday Club activities on 25 June with sessions available from 28 June. For the Big Norfolk Fun programme, booking will open from 1 July.

www.west-norfolk.gov.uk/summerofplay
www.alivewestnorfolk.co.uk/holidayactivities
www.norfolk.gov.uk/holidayfunsignup

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