Children, young people and families are being encouraged to sign up now for a packed programme of free activities taking place across Wolverhampton throughout the summer holidays.
Leading the way is Yo! Active, the city’s biggest ever summer activity offer, delivered by WV Active and Wolves Foundation. Running throughout the school holidays, it provides a wide range of free activities each week for children and young people aged up to 18, or up to 25 for care leavers and young adults with a disability whose families pay Council Tax to the City of Wolverhampton Council.
Activities include free swimming, gym and court hire, multi sport sessions, netball, family activities and special sessions for younger children, with events taking place at WV Active sites and community venues right across the city. The full programme can be found at Yo! Wolverhampton Young Opportunities.
Alongside Yo! Active, a wide range of free activities are being delivered by the council and its partners to help children and young people stay active, build confidence, develop new skills and make new friends over the summer.
Children and young people who meet criteria for Wolverhampton’s Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) can access more than 33,000 places at 44 city wide locations delivering fun activities with food.
Activities range from arts, crafts and drama to sports, cooking, martial arts and snooker. There are trips out too and all activities include a meal. For full eligibility details, visit Yo! Wolverhampton Young Opportunities.
Wolves Foundation’s popular Kicks in the Park programme returns, offering free sports activities for young people aged 8 to 18 at locations including Warstones Playing Fields, Hickman Park in Bilston, the Youth Hub at Molineux Stadium, Peace Park and Heath Town Park throughout the holidays. Find out more at Wolves Foundation.
Young people can also take part in the Your Spaces programme, which is bringing free sport, physical activity and creative sessions to parks and open spaces across Wolverhampton, including Long Ley Sports Ground, Heath Town, every Wednesday and Friday from 6pm to 8pm, Peace Park, Whitmore Reans, every Thursday and Saturday also from 6pm to 8pm, and Tennyson Road, Bushbury and Low Hill, every Thursday evening, also from 6pm to 8pm. For more details, visit Wolves Foundation.
Families will be able to enjoy a series of Love Your Community Fun Days taking place across the city, featuring free entertainment and activities including sports and games, arts and crafts, face painting, gardening activities and information stalls from local organisations and services. They are being held on Wednesday (29 July) at Dunstall Community Centre, Dunstall Avenue, Wednesday 5 August at Big Venture Centre, Chesterton Road, Wednesday 12 August at Ettingshall Memorial Hall, George Street, and Wednesday 19 August at East Park Methodist Church, Brooklands Parade. Each will run from 11am to 2pm and entry is free.
There are loads of brilliant Summer Reading Challenge activities taking place across the city’s libraries – all are free but please contact branches directly to find out more and to book spaces.
Meanwhile, Wolverhampton Art Gallery, Bantock House and Museum and Bilston Craft Gallery have a range of family friendly shows and activities over the coming weeks – for details, please visit Wolverhampton Arts & Culture.
Mandem Meetup’s Youthdem Outdoors programme will offer outdoor adventure activities for boys aged 12 to 16, including nature walks, archery, axe throwing, outdoor cooking, shelter building and an overnight camp, helping participants develop confidence, resilience and teamwork skills. For more information, call 07751 589289 or email wolves@mandemmeetup.org.
There will also be opportunities for young people to take part in Splash holiday sessions, delivered by Engage Youth Empowerment Services (EYES) and offering free creative, sports, physical and wellbeing activities every Tuesday and Thursday at Wednesfield Park and Ashmore Park during the summer break for children and young people aged 10 to 17. Find out more by calling 01902 219640 or 07898 599540 or at Engage Youth Empowerment Services.
Councillor Obaida Ahmed, Cabinet Member for Health, Wellbeing and Community, said: “We are proud to be working with so many organisations to offer an outstanding programme of free activities for children, young people and families this summer.
“At the heart of the programme is our biggest ever Yo! Active offer, giving thousands of young people the chance to get active, try new activities and enjoy their summer holidays in a fun, safe and welcoming environment.
“Alongside Yo! Active, there are fantastic opportunities through programmes such the Summer Reading Challenge, Kicks in the Park, Your Spaces, Love Your Community, Splash and Youthdem Outdoors, ensuring there is something for all ages and interests across the city.
“I would encourage families to find out more and sign up as soon as possible. While many sessions are free, places for some activities are limited and we want as many residents as possible to benefit from what promises to be a fantastic summer of activities.”