MORE than 220 from Skipton and Craven took part in almost 80 different activities during Skipton Extended Learning for All’s holiday programme over the summer.

Activities included sports, cookery, and ‘sing and sign’. There was also visits to the fire station and trips to the beach.

One mum said that for her son had helped him develop his social skills and give him more self-confidence.

The children’s charity is also celebrating its latest Ofsted inspection, which gave it an overall ‘good’ rating.

Inspectors, who visited in August, commented that staff ‘plan a broad range of fun and interesting activities’ and that SELFA ‘promote positive outcomes for vulnerable children and those who have complex needs.’

On the final day of the summer programme the charity threw a huge summer surprise in the former Ings primary school site on Broughton Road, Skipton, where 92 children of all different ages and abilities enjoyed the games and inflatables.

The SELFA summer programme is for children and young people who have been referred to the charity. It is free for all children and their parents and carers. Money from Children in Need, the Sobell Foundation, Tesco Charitable Trust, St. James’s Place Foundation and the Liz and Terry Bramall Foundation covers the majority of the costs.

The charity’s Chief Officer, Emma Pears said: “We are delighted with the success of our summer programme and with the endorsement of Ofsted. A big thank you to all the children, parents, staff, volunteers and funders who made it possible.”

SELFA’s new term-time programme starts on Monday September 17. To find out more, visit the website: selfa.org.uk or telephone 01756 706384.

All pictures by Rob Freeman