CHURCHES in Southsea got together to offer a week-long holiday club for local families.

The week kicked off with families from St Simon’s and St Jude’s churches having a day out at Staunton Country Park in Havant. The children enjoyed feeding the animals, stroking the rabbits and having a picnic together on the grass.

On Tuesday and Wednesday, the local Christian charity Spirit in Sport ran a morning of sporting activities for those aged six to 15 years old, which included football, basketball, cooking and other team-building activities. Children won ‘champagne moments’ for putting in excellent effort.

On the Thursday, St Jude’s Church ran a holiday club for three to 10 years old, featuring arts and crafts, pool, Wii games and cake decorating. There were also lots of games, fun and singing.

And on the Friday, St Simon’s Church hosted a holiday club which wowed the children with a bouncy castle and soft play equipment.

Dom DeBoo, children, youth and family ministries co-ordinator from St Jude's Church, said: "It has been great to see children laughing and having fun together, and I know the parents really appreciated the chance to relax and let our volunteers lead exciting activities for a couple of hours each day.

"Some of the families I’ve spoken to have also enjoyed a chance for their children to socialise with other local families. Sometimes the hardest thing is knowing who else is around in the middle of August to meet up with.

"The week has been a great example of how, by working together, we can offer families so much more than we could hope to on our own. Holiday clubs are great opportunities for churches to engage with families, and can be ways to promote other more regular aspects of the church life."