REVOLUTION PERFORMING ARTS WILL ONCE AGAIN SUPPORT SWINDON CHILDREN WITH HOT MEALS AND WINTER-THEMED FESTIVE FUN

Swindon’s leading performing arts company, Revolution Performing Arts (RPA), will be continuing its support of struggling Swindon families over the festive period by providing hot meals and a series of creative activities at settings across the town.

The initiative is part of the Holiday Activity and Food (HAF) programme, which is funded through Swindon Council by the Department of Education and aims to ensure that 1000s of children who usually receive free school meals have access to nutritious, hot meals over the holiday period while also enjoying free access to fun, creative activities. 

RPA has been supporting the initiative for the last three years in Swindon and stepped in over the summer this year to also support the wider Wiltshire programme too. It is continuing this support over the festive period to try and ensure as many families as possible can benefit from the programme’s provision.

Founder of RPA, Fi Da Silva-Adams, said it’s important to her to do what she can to help ensure that no child goes without hot meals over the school holidays and to provide access to performing arts, regardless of their socio-economic background.

“I know from personal experience just how much difference the arts can make to children who face personal challenges,” says Fi. “As someone who grew up in a very poor and neglectful household, the arts became my sanctuary. 

“Whilst I know we’re not providing therapy to the children that come to our sessions, there’s no doubt in my mind that creative activities have a therapeutic element to them and can make so much difference to a child’s ability to cope in difficult times. They’re also enormous fun!” 

The winter-themed children’s activities that the RPA team will be providing over the Christmas break include singing, dancing, drama, face-painting, lessons in magic tricks and lots of fun on bouncy castles. 

Fi Da Silva-Adams’s increased involvement in the scheme has seen her also taking on a strategic role for the programme’s steering group within the Swindon Council team which administers the HAF project.  

“The programme is so important, and Swindon does such a great job supporting it, I want to do whatever I can to ensure the needs of the families are accurately represented so that everything can be delivered as smoothly as possible on the ground,” Fi says. 

“I’m keen to make progress towards removing the barriers that families face in accessing the programme’s provision. Equality of opportunity is vital and I really want to put an emphasis on the arts as a completely non-elitist part of life. The arts should be for everyone.”

RPA’s winter-themed days are being held at various locations. In Swindon, they will be at Park South Community Centre, from December 18 to December 21 from 9:30am until 1:30pm. Eligible families should receive a voucher from their school, which includes a booking link to sign up.

Families from any background and circumstances are also able to book the sessions privately by calling RPA on 01793 792983 or emailing [email protected]. They can book online by going to www.revolutionpa.co.uk and clicking on the appropriate Holiday Fun page. All children will receive a hot meal.