Performing arts company offers summer fun for all children - including those on low income

The team at Revolution Performing Arts have joined the national ‘HAF’ initiative backed by England footballer Marcus Rashford MBE.

This Holiday Activities & Food project, supported by Government funding, is encouraging organisations across the UK to offer free places to children on low income who would not be able to attend summer camps and sessions if their families had to pay. 

According to organisers, often these families have no spare income and cannot send their children to ‘summer schools’, sometimes they cannot even afford to feed them. Eligible organisations which offer places must commit to provide each child with a delicious meal every day and the places are for any child who receives free school meals. 

RPA founder Fi Da Silva Adams, signed up for the project via Swindon Council and will offer HAF places in all of RPA’s summer activities in Swindon, Wroughton and Shrivenham. 

“Our ethos at RPA is one of inclusivity, no one should be excluded from something they enjoy by the barrier of poverty or low income. I know what that feels like. I was one of those children who had free school meals, who had to take my ‘token’ and hand it over to get food. I know what it feels like to be excluded and disadvantaged because of money.

“While parents who can afford to pay will do so, these places mean that those children who may not have considered joining us due to lack of funds, can now enjoy the same activities on an equal footing.”  

RPA is staging summer fun sessions for children aged four to 11 years offering them opportunities to dance, sing and act across Swindon, Wiltshire, Gloucestershire and Oxfordshire. The HAF places are available for children who live in the Swindon Council area who are currently receiving free school meals. 

The HAF project runs from July 26 to August 31 across the UK and relates to activities provided by registered organisations which have been recognised by their local authorities as offering credible summer activities for children from four years up to age 18. RPA’s activities are available for children aged four to 11. 

“So much has been taken from children over the last year,” Fi said. “Children need to meet, they need to have fun, and every session is carefully designed to include green spaces so we can enjoy activities indoors (safely) and outdoors.”

These sessions include singing, dancing, acting, song writing, theatre, arts & crafts, den building, outdoor water fun and more. The sessions begin on July 26 to August 27 at four venues: Lower Shaw Farm, West Swindon; Pineholt Village Centre, Hucclecotte, Gloucester, Legge House, Wroughton and Shrivenham Memorial Hall, Shrivenham. Dates for each venue are available on RPA’s website. Any parent who wishes to apply for a HAF placement for their child at the Swindon, Wroughton or Shrivenham  venues can do so by applying via the link www.swindon.gov.uk/HAF and if accepted they will be sent a unique HAF code they can then use to book onto RPA’s summer workshops at https://revolutionpa.co.uk/holiday-fun-performing-arts-workshops/

Revolution Performing Arts was founded in 2007 and the team have been running online sessions throughout all lockdowns. All teachers are DBS checked, trained in first aid and receive training in safeguarding protocols.  RPA specialises in empowering young people to celebrate their individuality through the power of performing arts. For more information visit https://revolutionpa.co.uk.