Families praise charity for Easter holiday support

Parents have praised a charity which is helping to support families with the cost of living over the school Easter holidays.

Live Well North East in Sacriston, County Durham, holds adult fitness classes which cost £4, but during that time the charity offers free childcare.

It said it believed families would face "more financial pressure" this Easter due to rising costs.

CEO Debra Cumiskey said: "We're all about improving the wellbeing of parents and children and that's why we have our Easter holiday programme."

In a speech on Wednesday, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer warned the conflict in the Middle East would impact the UK but sought to reassure the public the government was taking action to ease the cost of living, such as increasing the national minimum wage.

Live Well North East will hold exercise classes every day during the school Easter holidays.

Primary school-aged children can also attend a breakfast club over the holidays, which is free for families who receive food vouchers under the Department for Education's Holiday Activities and Food programme.

Parents who attend the exercise classes have called the service "vital" in helping with their wellbeing and finances.

Lauren Emmerson, a mum of three from Brandon, said: "It can be tough over Easter but the free childcare is amazing and it also helps us parents."

Another mum who attends the class, Gemma, said she "spends more" during the Easter break.

"You might as well toss £100 a day in the air each day during the holidays as when you're looking for things to do the cost is just going up and up, so that's why having these guys here is so important," she said.

Its dedicated breakfast club will be held at The Fulforth Centre for primary school-aged children.

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