TOWN councillors and rotary club members dropped in at Overmonnow School in Monmouth last week to learn more about the summer play scheme, which has been offering local children fun activities and healthy lunches free of charge.

Monmouthshire County Council’s (MCC’s) play schemes, run in conjunction with the Torfaen Play Service, have been operating in nine different venues across the county for the past five weeks, providing opportunities for children aged five to 11 to socialise and enjoy themselves during the school holidays.

The scheme at Overnmonnow School is one of two in the town provided by MCC in partnership with local organisations and the voluntary sector.

In addition to fun-packed activities, children at Overmonnow’s scheme have been benefitting from a free, healthy and nutritional packed lunch bag prepared by the nearby Ty Price Community Centre, Transition Monmouth Food Sense, local women’s institutes and Monmouth Methodist Church.

The food is sourced locally as far as possible and is delivered in plastic-free packaging.

Funded by generous donations from the school’s parent-teacher association, local businesses, individuals and groups and the Monmouthshire Housing Association, the initiative is a response to food poverty experienced over the summer holidays.

Monmouthshire’s cabinet member for social justice and community development Councillor Sara Jones said: “Play is an essential part of every child’s life - it isn’t just fun, it’s also the best way for young children to learn.

“We want to give all children the opportunity to get involved in the schemes on offer and would like to thank our partners for supporting us on this important agenda.”

Paul Sherrington of Rotary Monmouth added: “We are delighted to support a project that does so much to provide a happy, safe and fun environment for local children during the summer holidays.”

Among those visiting the Overmonnow scheme were members of Monmouth Town Council and Rotary Monmouth which help to fund the scheme together with Mitchel Troy and Trellech United Community Councils, the Welsh Government’s Families First Programme and environmental group Transition Monmouth.

Overmonnow’s programme has been operating each morning from Monday to Friday while another scheme at Kymin View Primary School in Wyesham has been running on weekday afternoons.