After-school activities on offer to Reading youngsters

Youngsters from across Reading are being given the chance to get fit and healthy and become involved in some after-school fun at free activity sessions which kicked-off in their local community last week.

Delivered by Sanctuary Housing in partnership with Urban Play Rangers, a community organisation that encourages children to be more physically active and take advantage of local open spaces, the Reading sessions are open to all young people, male or female, aged from 5-13 years from across the area.

The exciting free sessions – which include archery, arts and crafts, a climbing wall and inflatable games – take place every Thursday outside Alan Place from 3.30 - 5pm.

The programme will give young people the opportunity to improve physical health and wellbeing, increase their confidence and self esteem, and allow them to interact and engage with other members of the local community in a positive way.

The sessions in Reading form part of the national Sanctuary in Sport project which is delivering a range of activities to youngsters across the country and designed to encourage health and wellbeing and help keep communities active.

Kelvin Husbands, play ranger from Urban Play Rangers, commented: “Since we were set up in 2008, we have been able to engage with over 16,000 people from across the town.

“It’s thanks to the funding from Sanctuary Housing that we are now able to extend the sessions from the summer holidays into the autumn, and I’m sure we will be able to reach even more local young people.”