Church in Medway combatting cost of living with affordable children’s holiday club
It may be wet outside, but inside St Paul’s Church it’s warm and dry.
They’re hosting a space themed holiday club for school age children, with crafts, games, and food.
The event is being held with the backdrop of the cost-of-living crisis. As a result, organisers are charging £5 in total for the three days, including a hot meal for each day.
Pat Dickin is the vicar at St Paul’s, and helped organise the activities. She said: “We are doing a holiday club for primary age children to give them something to do during the holidays, just to help the local community.
“There’s a bit of running around, games and activities and crafts that some parents might not be able to afford.”
Chances to have practical learning opportunities, and a hot meal, at an affordable price, were reasons for why some of the parents brought their children along.
Claire Bolden brought her sons to the church, and said: “It’s brilliant just to be able to leave the kids with someone that’s trustworthy.
“Absolutely fantastic value for money.
“They love every minute of it, and I love every minute of it because I get a couple of hours peace.”
Liz Malyon came with her four-year-old son, and praised the value for money, saying: “They’ve had a science activity every day, they’ve had a craft activity every day, and it only cost £5 for the whole three days and that includes a hot meal, and it obviously helps parents out that are working in the week as well because obviously it’s really easy for childcare.”
People from across Medway have volunteered their time this week to help out with the holiday club.
Colin Lovell is one of them. Speaking about the initiative, Mr Lovell said: “As a church here at St Paul’s in the Parish of South Gillingham, because this is a parish event, we want to do things in half term which will help parents and will give children a good time at an affordable price.”
More than 30 children have come along to the holiday club, but what have they thought of it?
“It’s just an amazing place where you do crafts, and science, and you learn songs, and do things to do with the bible,” said Amelie, 7.
It’s home time now for these children, but they’ll be going home fed, and hopefully after having a lot of fun too.
