A Cornish activity provider has celebrated success in the House of Commons after winning a national award for their work with children in the county.
Liam Dart and his team from LJD Coaching were nominated by the Active Cornwall Time2Move Holiday Programme team for their exceptional partnerships with schools, Town Councils and businesses in the Bude/Stratton area.
The Time2Move Holiday Programme (known nationally as the Holiday Activity and Food Programme) supports families during school holidays with fun activities, healthy food and physical activity. The Active Cornwall team bring together providers across Cornwall who put on a wide range of activities and sports that are fully funded for those eligible for benefits related free school meals.
Lewis Sanders, Development Officer for Children, Young People and Families at Active Cornwall, who leads on the Time2Move Holiday Programme, said: “The work that Liam and his team at LJD Coaching have done with their local Town Council is exemplary, and their focus on inclusivity, particularly for children in care and those with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), really stands out. We were delighted to submit this nomination and are so thrilled they have won the national Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) Award!”
Liam said: “We were honoured to be nominated and to win the regional award for Cornwall was fantastic, but to go on and win the national award is absolutely amazing. It took us completely by surprise and is credit to our partnership with Active Cornwall and our tremendous team of staff and community partners, without whom we couldn’t run such a successful programme. We are all so passionate about being inclusive and providing opportunities for children of all abilities and disabilities to access our activities. We are thrilled with how successful our HAF programme has been and the difference we’re able to make.”
The initiative’s impact has been immense, with other towns now looking to replicate Bude’s model. Bude-Stratton Town Council commented on the achievement, saying: “We are thrilled to see LJD Coaching’s hard work and dedication recognised at the highest level. This programme is a shining example of what can be achieved through community collaboration and support, and we are proud to have played a part in making it possible.”
