Swansea City legend visits school holiday project

Swansea City legend Lee Trundle has put children from Melyn through their paces as part of a school holiday programme.

Known as ‘Food and Fun’, the programme uses school facilities during the summer holidays to encourage children between the ages of 6 and 11 to become more active, eat healthily and develop friendships. Everyone who attends the programme is given a healthy breakfast and lunch, and takes part in a range of physical and educational activities throughout the day.

At a recent session at Melin Primary School, the children enjoyed an hour-long football session with the former Swansea City ace as part of the scheme’s aim to promote physical activity. They all took part in a masterclass on how to shoot, pass and dribble like a top professional footballer.

Lee Trundle, who now works as an Ambassador for Swansea City AFC, said:

“We’ve been supporting the Food and Fun programme for the last 4 years in Neath Port Talbot.

“It is clear the children enjoy attending, and is a fun way of keeping them healthy and in contact with their friends throughout the school holidays.”

In addition to the football session, the children had the opportunity to take part in an arts and crafts session delivered by the child and family team and a range of sporting activities arranged by NPT PASS. It was also the first year for local construction firm Andrew Scott Ltd to get involved in the programme through teaching the young people some key gardening skills,and constructing benches and picnic tables for the schoolyard.

Councillor Peter Rees, Cabinet Member for Education, Skills and Culture, said:

“Food and Fun is also a great way of supporting young people to make new friends and encourage positive attitudes towards their health and diet.

“This is a prime example of how the Council can work with partner organisations to provide additional support to families during the school holidays, and give young people the chance to improve their wellbeing.”

Food and Fun is currently run in four schools in Neath Port Talbot.It is part funded by Welsh Government, co-ordinated by the WLGA and delivered by Neath Port Talbot Council.

A number of partner organisations provide support to deliver the scheme in Neath Port Talbot including Mid and West Wales Fire Service, South Wales Police, Swansea City Football Club, CADW, Healthy Schools, NPT Physical Activity Sports Service, NPT Children and Families Team, ABMU Health Board Dietetics, school nurses, NPT Youth Service, Healthy Schools,and Andrew Scott Ltd.