Cumberland FA and the counties two senior football clubs (Carlisle United and Workington AFC) are working together, with Cumbria County Council and the Department of Education to deliver a programme of free holiday activity and food for over 200 children, thanks mainly to the work of a certain Marcus Rashford. 

In November 2020, following the successful campaigning of the Manchester United and England International, the government agreed to make over £220 million available to local authorities to expand the holiday activities and food (HAF) programme across the whole of England meaning that the scheme would be available to children in every local authority. 

Anyone who has watched the excellent documentary ‘Feeding Britain’s Children’ will have heard Rashford talk about how for his family, like a lot of families, school holidays had placed particular pressure on his family due to increased cost (such as food, childcare and in his case soccer camps) and reduced income, which can lead to a holiday experience gap and potentially even social isolation. 

Inspired by Marcus Rashfords campaign, Cumberland FA, Carlisle United Community Sports Trust and Workington Reds in The Community have therefore come together to try and offer a number of free places on their Summer holiday camps to children who are eligible for and in receipt of benefits-related free school meals and with the potential to maybe even support the next Marcus Rashford.

As well as receiving a place on the soccer camp, a free meal will be provided each day to those attending through a HAF place. 

The Carlisle United Community Sports Trust holiday programme has been so popular that they have filled all of their HAF places at all venues in their planned provision and whilst they still have some non-HAF places available their camps, especially at at Penrith Leisure Centre (Tuesday 3rd to Friday 6th August) and Harraby 3G (Tuesday 17th to Friday 20th August), the additional interest in the summer programme had showed the vital role that soccer camps are playing in the health and well-being as we take tentative steps out of this pandemic. 

John Halpin, Community Manager at Carlisle United Community Sports Trust said, “We are delighted to welcome kids back to our holiday courses after such a difficult time for all”.  More details of courses can be found HERE  

Reds in The Community are currently still taking bookings and have HAF places available for all of their planned provision. 

Conor Cooke, Lead Coach for the Holidays camps said, "Thanks to the Holiday Activity and Food Programme, we have free spaces to offer to those on free school meals throughout West Cumbria. This will give children who may have not been able to attend in the past, the opportunity to come develop their skills and have a fun filled week of Football"

For more information or to book on a course please e-mail conor@workingtonafc.com

Cumberland FA Chief Executive, Ben Snowdon, said, “I would like to thank Carlisle United Community Sports Trust, Reds in the Community and Cumbria County Council for their support in ensuring that this wonderful programme has the chance to reach far and wide across the county. 

I believe that morally this is something that grassroots football must lead upon.  It is hoped that this scheme will just be the start of a relationship that will allow for continued provision for free places at soccer camps, which in turn will enable football mad kids from families who may otherwise have to make major sacrifices (not eating themselves tec.) or not being able to afford to send their kids on a soccer camp at all, with the opportunity to do so.  

However most importantly I would like to thank Marcus Rashford for leading as an example to children, from all backgrounds, both on and off the pitch.  I read in the week someone saying that he should forget about politics and concentrate on his football.  Well I, along with over 200 children in Cumberland, would beg to differ.”