When Natalie* talks about the school holidays, she’s upfront about the challenges her family faces. “It can be really hard work”, she shares.
Natalie lives in a village near Selby with her husband, her 16-year-old son Max* and her foster son Jake* (13). Jake has ADHD, while Max lives with Type 1 diabetes and attends regular hospital clinics, often miles away in Hull.
Her husband works in Leeds and is frequently away during the week. During school holidays, Natalie is usually balancing hospital appointments, long car journeys and the challenge of keeping two teenagers with very different needs occupied.
“There’s no respite with fostering,” she says. “We’re five years in and we’ve had respite twice. It’s really difficult to get.”
For their family, FEAST fills that gap.
Since it was launched in Easter 2021, the FEAST holiday scheme has supported 34,000 children and young people in the county. Note that this image does not feature ‘Jake’ or ‘Max’. Image credit: Oliver Dixon Photography
A break that makes a real difference
Over Christmas, Natalie booked Jake onto United Education’s Adventure Camps through FEAST. The activity was free, included a healthy meal and focused on sport and outdoor activity.
“Outdoor activities, games and sport suit him. They channel his energy and give him structure. With children in foster care, it’s really important to keep that structure,” Natalie explains. “They need positive relationships and routine.”
The timing mattered. Max’s hospital appointments don’t pause for school holidays. Monthly clinics, eye appointments and healthy eating workshops mean frequent visits, sometimes involving over 60-mile round trips.
“For Jake, sitting in traffic or hospital waiting rooms isn’t a good environment,” she says. “It’s stressful. FEAST saves him from that.”
While Jake was at camp, Natalie could focus on Max’s appointments without added strain. Sometimes, it simply meant valuable one-to-one time with her older son.
There are more than 50 activities running across North Yorkshire this Easter. New activities include climbing workshops and farm visits. Note that this image does not feature ‘Jake’ or ‘Max’. Image credit: Oliver Dixon Photography
The right support at the right age
At 13, Jake is at what Natalie calls “that tricky age” – too old for some activities, too young for others. With no local youth club, options are limited. The United Education activities being offered through FEAST stood out immediately.
“They were at just the right level in terms of the activities on offer. Right from the outset, the staff just seemed to get him,” she says. “They understood neurodiversity.”
After a day at Adventure Camp, Jake comes home tired in a good way.
“He’s calmer, more focused. It helps him stay close to his school routine, which is really important for his regulation. He makes friends easily and enjoys being around people who understand him.”
More than a holiday club
Natalie has used FEAST for years. Max attended activities when he was younger, and when Jake joined the family five years ago, they discovered he was eligible too.
“We’ve used lots of different activities,” she says. “Anything that’s free, I share. I’ve got a WhatsApp group for my neighbourhood and I always tell people about FEAST.”
Because for her, it’s about more than keeping a teenager busy.
“FEAST means something to each member of our family,” she says. “We’d be lost without you.”
This Easter, use your FEAST voucher
FEAST offers free holiday activities with food for children and young people in North Yorkshire from Reception to Year 11 who receive benefits-related Free School Meals, or who are made eligible by exception (learn more about eligibility in our ‘information for families’ FAQs). If your child is eligible, look out for your FEAST voucher from HolidayActivities this Easter and explore what’s happening near you.
*Names have been changed to protect the identity of the individuals featured.