HOLIDAY ACTIVITY
AND FOOD
HOLIDAY ACTIVITY
AND FOOD
The holiday activities and food (HAF) programme provides healthy meals, enriching activities, and free childcare places to children from low-income families, benefiting their health, wellbeing and learning.
Since 2022, the HAF programme has provided 15.6 million HAF days to children and young people in this country. Across the 2023 to 2024 academic year, almost 5 million HAF days were provided during winter, Easter, and summer delivery.
The programme, though aimed at children in receipt of benefits-related free school meals (FSMs), is not exclusively for them and as set out in this guidance. We encourage local authorities to use up to 15% of their funding to provide free or subsidised holiday club places for children who are not in receipt of benefits-related FSMs but who the local authority believes could benefit from HAF.
Since 2023, IDEA has been working with 5 boroughs (Kingston Upon Thames, Ealing, Hammersmith & Fulham, Bromley, and Wandsworth) on various HAF activities and holiday camps across different libraries and community venues.
WHY IT MATTERS
WHY IT MATTERS
While holiday clubs and after-school programmes both provide structured activities for children, Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) programmes serve a distinct and essential social purpose.
Unlike standard holiday clubs, which are often extensions of after-school provision focused on enrichment and childcare, HAF programmes are designed to support children and families who may otherwise face barriers to access. This includes financial constraints, limited access to extracurricular opportunities, or social isolation.
HAF PROGRAMMES PROVIDE:
Inclusive access to creative and recreational experiences: Children can engage in art and design activities, play, and social interaction that they might not otherwise experience during school holidays.
Nutritional support and food security: Programmes include healthy meals on-site, as well as meal kits or food support for home, helping to address holiday hunger and reduce pressure on families.
Physical activity and wellbeing: Activities incorporate movement, play, and outdoor engagement, supporting both physical and mental health.
Education around healthy lifestyles: Children are introduced to basic nutrition knowledge and healthy habits, building awareness that extends beyond the programme.
Social development and community connection: HAF creates a safe, structured environment where children can build friendships, confidence, and a sense of belonging.
THE IDEA DIFFERENCE
THE IDEA DIFFERENCE
REMOVE FINANCIAL BARRIERS
Provides access to high-quality art and design education for children who may otherwise be excluded
BUILD CONFIDENCE AND SELF-WORTH
Enables children to create, achieve, and feel proud of their work
SUPPORT MENTAL WELLBEING
Offers a safe, creative outlet for expression, reducing stress and anxiety
ENCOURAGE ASPIRATION
Builds creativity, problem-solving, and visual communication skills while opening pathways into art, design, and creative careers
PROMOTE A SENSE OF COMMUNITY
Helps children build friendships and feel part of a supportive community and keeps children engaged in meaningful learning outside school hours
EASTER HAF 2026
EASTER HAF 2026
This year, we had the pleasure of delivering our HAF programmes across Ealing, Bromley, and Kingston.
Guided by the theme Alice in Wonderland, the programme was designed to nurture creativity, curiosity, and holistic development through immersive, hands-on learning.
Children began by creating their own bunny ears, an imaginative entry point to storytelling and exploration, before moving on to design and craft royal guards and construct their own interpretations of the White Rabbit’s clocks.
As the week unfolded, our young students collaborated to create a vibrant Meadow of Living Flowers, encouraging not only artistic expression but also teamwork, confidence, and a sense of shared ownership.
