More than 200 Thanet families have received free laptops thanks to Ramsgate Football Club and East Kent College.
The giveaway has been part of this summer’s HAF (Holiday Activities and Food) programme, which has been attended by 400 children across two sites at the WW Martin Stadium and Cliftonville Primary School, in what is the busiest month the club has experienced.
The free holiday camp covers a range of activities and provides children with breakfast and lunch at a time when the cost of living is rising and families are feeling the pinch more than ever.
Children have enjoyed arts and crafts workshops, baking, sports, nature trails and “Inflatable Thursday” with bouncy-castles and inflatable obstacle courses. There have been visits from Pie Factory music, football training with first team players Josh Ajayi and Denzelle Olapade and with two weeks remaining on the program there are still trips to Monkton Nature Reserve and Dover Castle to come.
Sue Marsh of EKC Group said: “We are hoping these laptops will benefit the families and children. Families can use them to support their education and learn new skills.”
Council Leader Ash Ashbee paid a visit to WW Martin Community Stadium to see the program in action and described the event as “humbling.”
She added: “There are lots of happy children and it is so humbling to see all the things that are going on here.”
Sponsors WW Martin were also in attendance and praised “the effort, the interest and the time put in by the guys that run the club is fantastic,” adding: “The stadium is named after us and it is this sort of thing that gives us the enthusiasm to continue to be part of it.”
Ramsgate Football Club run activity programs during each school holiday and these are available to people who are entitled to benefit-based school meals.
The HAF program is generally funded by the government and aims to address food poverty, inactivity, isolation and learning loss by children, through activities and the provision of a hot meal and healthy snacks.