A local MP has urged the government to continue a support scheme for half term clubs, in a bid to ensure every child is receiving healthy food and participating in “enriching” activities during the school holidays.

Stuart Anderson MP is keen for the government to continue its scheme, which allowed over 680,000 children from low-income backgrounds to participate in clubs during the school holidays - including over 460,000 children eligible for free school meals.

The MP has led the call following a visit to one of the clubs in his constituency, at St Lawrence Primary School in Church Stretton.

The MP has said that since 2021, Shropshire has been allocated £2 million for the scheme, which has benefited thousands of children from low-income families.

 On his visit to the holiday club in Church Stretton, the MP met local children that have benefited from the scheme.

The South Shropshire MP said: “It was excellent to visit the free holiday club at St Lawrence Primary School in Church Stretton.

“Since 2021, the last government had provided funding for every local authority to deliver highly impactful school holiday provision like this - providing hundreds of thousands of children from low-income families with heathy meals and enriching activities.

“The service remains a vital part of our support for local communities in South Shropshire. It was fantastic to hear about the huge benefits of the Shropshire programme and how it positively benefits their heath, wellbeing and learning. So, I am calling on the government to continue this valuable scheme in the future.”