ESTATE youngsters are to benefit from a £3,500 grant to keep them busy during their half-term break.

Barton Community Association has won the cash from Oxford City Council’s Social Inclusion Fund to provide activities for those aged five to 15 during the school holiday in February.

Association secretary Sue Holden said the activities – which will include sports, arts, crafts and cookery – would be free of charge for families on the estate.

And parents and grandparents would be encouraged to get involved as volunteers.

Our top stories

She said: “We find the half terms in October and February are particularly good times because traditionally it is a time of the year when not a lot else happens and therefore kids are very limited in what they can do.

“The February one is when the weather is not particularly good – kids tend to hibernate in their rooms.

“If we can offer them these types of activities it gets them out of their homes and they can engage with other people.”

The children attending the Barton Neighbourhood Centre events will be urged to keep a diary of their experience during the week.

Barton Community Association has promised to match-fund the cash so £7,000 will be spent on the week.

Mrs Holden added: “It stops that social isolation that can happen. And when you put them together in a room there is no class distinction or cultural distinction – it is just a group of kids who want to have fun.

“These kids come in on a Monday and we’re having to push them out the door on Friday.”

Council spokesman Chofamba Sithole said: “Staff from Bayards Hill School will work with the community association to deliver this programme, and young people will be rewarded throughout the week for achievement, good behaviour and generally supporting various aspects of the project.

“Some of the planned activities will include fun food preparation, keep fit activities such as football, rhythmic gymnastics, street dance workshops and skipping.”

Van Coulter, a city council member for Barton and Sandhills, said the money would be well spent.

He said: “The grant of £3,500 being made to Barton Community Association builds on past work that improves the well-being of some of the poorest families in Oxford.

“Last year about 90 children aged from five years to 13 years took part in a wide range of activities, many of which revolved around healthy food and cooking skills.”

For information on the activities week, call Sue Holden on 07866 460446.

  • Do you want alerts delivered straight to your phone via our WhatsApp service? Text NEWS or SPORT or NEWS AND SPORT, depending on which services you want, and your full name to 07767 417704. Save our number into your phone’s contacts as Oxford Mail WhatsApp and ensure you have WhatsApp installed.