More varied leisure activities

The City of Hafnarfjörður and the football club Haukar have signed an agreement for the operation of an after-school club by Haukar for children aged six to nine, with the support of the City of Hafnarfjörður.

A working group commissioned by the City of Hafnarfjörður has been working on changes to the framework for the operation of after-school clubs. Each school runs an after-school club for the youngest children, but one of the working group's new initiatives was to give sports clubs the opportunity to provide this service, as increased demand has meant that in some places, the space for activities in schools is more limited than before. The Education Committee subsequently approved this authorisation, which is open to all sports clubs and voluntary organisations in Hafnarfjörður. Sports clubs are able to offer a different programme to that of the schools, often relating to increased physical activity and the promotion of sports. This is therefore an important step forward in the development of the town's leisure activities.

The agreement with Haukarnir is for one year, and the City of Hafnarfjörður is contributing towards the cost of the service, so the fee is similar to that at Haukarnir and in the primary schools. The City of Hafnarfjörður will be involved with the operation and will continue to work on the development of the service alongside Haukar, but one of the aims is to shorten the children's school day so they can finish their sports and leisure activities earlier in the day than is currently the case.

There are nearly 40 children at Haukarnir today, and leisure educator Íris Óskarsdóttir has been appointed as the director of the operation. 

In the picture, Mayor of Hafnarfjörður Haraldur L. Haraldsson and Haukar's Managing Director, Magnús Gunnarsson, are seen signing the agreement, along with a fine group of children at the after-school club.