'Kids' club is a lifeline after my husband's accident'

Louise Golec's three children attend the FEAST programme

A mother of three has praised an "amazing" free holiday club for helping with childcare after a cycling accident left her husband with a catastrophic brain injury.

David Golec, 37, was riding to work at a farm near the family home in the Yorkshire Dales when he suffered life-changing injuries that left him permanently disabled.

As the sole earner, farrier Louise was left to care for their children - aged five, eight and nine - while struggling with a "grief that was weighing [her] down".

"I've been with Dave since I was 18, I'm now 38 so that's 20 years of my adult life that we have been together," she said.

"At the start I didn't know how I was ever going to survive, how I was going to put a roof over our heads or food on my children's table.

"[But] the only way they are going to get through life is if I step up and be the parent I'm supposed to be and at that point, I just decided every second of my life is for them."

According to Mrs Golec, school holidays were "a massive worry" as the nature of her job requires her to work long hours providing services to horse owners.

Louise describes her family as "very active"

"We're a very active family, we always mountain biked, we're always outside, we're always down by the river playing or in the fields playing and I didn't want that to stop," she said.

"I just had to make sure their lives were as normal as possible."

Mr Golec was also a farrier but is now unable to work.

Through family and friends she was recommended FEAST, a North Yorkshire Council-funded programme that offers free holiday activities and food for eligible children between the ages of five to 16.

The £1.4m scheme is delivered as a partnership between the council and local community providers, for children who receive benefits-related free school meals.

Since launching in 2022 FEAST has supported more than 13,000 children, according to its strategic director Max May.

"It's been incredibly rewarding to see how FEAST has helped level the playing field for so many children across North Yorkshire," he said.

"In just three years, we've supported young people who might otherwise have missed out.

"None of it would be possible without the dedication of local activity providers, schools, and communities working together."

Through the scheme, the children have taken part in activities which include mountain biking, climbing, paddleboarding and forest school sessions.

In the 18 months since her husband's accident, Mrs Golec said she has been well-supported by her community, including the local groups that offer free activities.

The children have taken part in numerous activities

"We have the most amazing communities up here in the Yorkshire Dales," she said.

"We've had so many local people just come round us and support us and want to help us with things."

Mr Golec will have to spend the rest of his life in an assisted living facility and does not recognise his family.

His wife is now urging other families who may be struggling to explore what benefits and support are available to them, as there are "people out there who want to help".

"Sometimes we have to step up, take a breath and say 'right, I can do this but I need help. Don't be afraid to ask because there are communities and charities that are there for us."

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