Today marks the beginning of the EFL's Week Of Action for the 2023/24 season. Every day of this week we will be highlighting and celebrating the work done in our community by the football club and the Cheltenham Town Community Trust.
We kick-off the week by looking at the community trust's brilliant help in delivering of the Holiday Activity and Food programme (HAF) out of Holy Trinity C of E Primary School, not far from the Completely-Suzuki Stadium.
In 2021, the government granted further investment of over £200 million per year over the following three financial years toward the HAF, a programme which the community trust have helped run in the local area.
The school holidays can be a tough time for some families and the HAF is a great initiative that helps children from reception to year 11 who receive benefits-related free school meals. During the holidays, the trust play a big part in helping out at the local primary school, helping kids to eat healthily and stay active as well as staying safe and not to be isolated.
The school's Head Teacher Kurt Doyle commented on their relationship with the club and the work they do in aiding the HAF by saying:
"We have been working with Olly and the Foundation to support the delivery of the HAF programme. We are passionate about inclusion and about providing opportunities for children from disadvantaged backgrounds.
"Cheltenham Town are basing some of their HAF work at Holy Trinity and this has further strengthened the relationship with the school.
"I joined the school last September and we have been working really hard to improve standards. The school is rapidly improving and we are encouraged by the support of Cheltenham Town and other local businesses."
The club announced their new third kit last month and as part of the campaign, invited the year 6 students from Holy Trinity to interview Robins manager Darrell Clarke down at the club's principal partners, Mira Showers.
It was a great event that allowed the club to further their relationship with the school, buliding on the great collaboration already in place with such an important programme like the HAF.