Sports secretary Lisa Nandy backs The Sun’s Activity For All campaign amid rising cost of summer childcare

SPORTS Secretary Lisa Nandy has praised The Sun’s Activity For All campaign after figures showing the cost of summer childcare is really hurting families.

Yesterday, we told how a new report from the Coram Family and Childcare Charity found costs had shot up six per cent compared to last summer, to an average of £1,049 on average per child.

Glen Minikin

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New Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy has backed The Sun’s campaign[/caption]

Last month we launched our Activity For All Fund, in partnership with Tesco’s Stronger Starts programme.

It funds healthy activities and food for kids, to pay for holiday activity clubs for children in the face of rising costs.

Lisa, the Secretary for Culture, Media and Sport, said: “This is a great initiative that will give thousands of young people across the country a chance to get active over the holidays.

“At a time when lots of families are struggling to make ends meet, supporting our local sports clubs to provide food and activities is so important.

“The Activity For All and Stronger Starts programme will help to keep our young people fit and healthy over the summer break — now we just need the sunshine.”

Pitch fees

There are 150 grants of £1,000 up for grabs for not-for-profit grassroots organisations that provide activity and holiday clubs for children over the summer holidays.

The grant can be used by clubs in any way that helps keep kids active in the break.

It could be to fund free or subsidised places, help with pitch fees so clubs have more space or even provide healthy lunches or new equipment.