CHILDREN whose families claim certain benefits are being invited to take part in free activities outside of school hours.

The Free Time Subsidy Scheme, which allows children to get involved in activities such as sports, arts, hobbies and music lessons, will be available in every Wiltshire school from September.

More than 900 children and young people have already taken part in the scheme in the county following a pilot in Trowbridge and Marlborough from September 2008.

To take part in the scheme, parents can talk to their child's school administration officer to find out which activities are available and if they are eligible.

Pupils are eligible if their family is in receipt of one of the following: Free school meals, housing benefit/local housing allowance, council tax benefit, income support, jobseeker's allowance, employment and support allowance, the disability element of working tax credit, working tax credit or pension credit.