Food and Fun 2023

Welsh Government Film 2023 featuring YEM!

What is SHEP?

The SHEP is a school-based programme that provides healthy meals, food and nutrition education, physical activity and enrichment sessions to children in areas of social deprivation during the summer holidays. ‘Food and Fun’ is the brand identity used at a local level to promote the clubs to children and families.

Working Together Food and Fun - Click here

In 2016 the WLGA piloted the SHEP model nationally in 10 schools, working with 5 local authorities and 3 local health boards. Cardiff University provided the evaluation and recommended ‘Further scaling up of the model to understand the educational and health benefits to children and their families in different contexts.’ The Welsh Government part funded the programme in 2017 to 38 clubs in 12 local authorities and all 7 local health boards. Continued Welsh Government funding has enabled the programme to grow to 77 schemes in 21 local authorities offering nearly 4,000 places to pupils in 2019.

Why is SHEP needed?

During the school holidays, when Free Breakfast in Primary Schools and Free School Meals are not available, some families struggle to afford or access food that provides a healthy diet. Some children also experience social isolation and a lack of intellectual stimulation, normally provided by school or family enrichment activities, and this may contribute to widening the attainment gap.

What are the main benefits of SHEP?

• The clubs make children more active
• Improvements in children’s diets
• Making new friends and having fun
• Learning and engagement with school
• Helps parents meet the costs of school holidays
• Improving parents’ health and well-being
• Parents learn new skills
• Involves the whole family
• Facilitates collaboration between agencies
• Involves children in decision making
• Makes better use of existing facilities
• Encourages community engagement
• Offers paid and voluntary employmen
• Signposts to other service

How can I find out more?

The SHEP has received attention from numerous politicians, councillors, local authorities, local health boards, head teachers, school governors, agencies and parents. For more information see Miss Martin in school.