Park Sport has provided Eastleigh Borough’s three food banks with gift bags containing sports equipment to help families affected by the coronavirus pandemic to stay fit and healthy.
The Borough has three food banks located in Eastleigh town centre, Hedge End and Hound (Netley). They are run by independent charities that help support around 80 families experiencing financial hardship. During the relief phase of the pandemic the Council’s HealthWorks and SportWorks team developed a stronger relationship with the food banks and used the connection to promote the health and wellbeing programmes that they offer to residents.
Councillor Tonia Craig, Cabinet Member for Health, said: “We’re really pleased to have been able to offer some of the families that rely on the food banks something to help them to stay fit and healthy during the summer holidays. These gift bags have activities for children that will keep them entertained and active.”
The gift bags include equipment, such as a bat and ball, football and frisbee and are hoped to encourage children to exercise and maintain their wellbeing during this time of uncertainty, they will be handed out to families at the various food banks.
Park Sport is Eastleigh Borough Council’s summer youth programme aimed at 8 to 16 year-olds in the Borough. The programme was forced to alter the way it operated this year due to the pandemic. Most of the activities were either virtual or for people to take part in at a time that suited them.