Relief for parents as government extends Holiday Activities and Food programme

The Department for Education has confirmed that funding for the Holiday Activities and Food programme is being extended for another three years, allocating £200 million for each year.

The funding is distributed to local authorities to enable them to provide additional support for children from lower-income families during school holidays, with free healthy meals and enriching activities. The funding is based on ensuring holiday clubs run four days per week on four out of six weeks of the summer holidays plus one week each at Christmas and Easter.  An estimated half a million children benefitted from the programme over the past year, with the programme also enabling families to make estimated savings of £300 per year.

Barbara Crowther, Children's Food Campaign Manager at Sustain says:

"This news will come as a huge relief for hard working parents for whom the Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) programme is a real lifeline during school holidays.

"There is strong evidence that HAF programmes have tremendous impact on children's health, social and educational wellbeing, as well as reducing pressure on family budgets and the juggling act over the school holidays between work and childcare. 

"We especially welcome the commitment to a multi-year settlement. This is what our networks have been calling for, enabling local authorities, schools and their community partners to plan ahead and build lasting partnerships, enhancing the overall quality and delivery of the programme."

The University of Northumbria's Healthy Living Lab, led by Professor Greta Defeyter, has been working with 50 local authorities to conduct a comprehensive survey of parents and carers on their views of HAF. To date, 19,000 parents have participated, with overwhelming (99%) support for continuation of the programme. Findings include:

• More than 9 in 10 (95%) of parents and carers say HAF makes it easier for them to work during school holidays, and also helps them to worry less about money (92%)
• 9 in 10 (95%) also say HAF helps their children to take part in physical activity and a similar number (88%) say it helps their children to make new friends in the local community.

The team have also been developing a HAF Plus programme specifically co-designed with teenagers to support the needs and interests of young people aged 13-18. 

Professor Greta Defeyter, of the Healthy Living Lab at the University of Northumbria says:

“I am delighted that the Department for Education have committed to funding HAF for a further three years.

“HAF is an excellent programme that supports hundreds of thousands of children and young people, and their families across England, by providing them with a range of enriching opportunities to interact with peers, their local community organisations, schools and community assets.

“Our research has shown a Social Return of Investment of £8 for every £1 invested, by the UK government, in the programme. Investing in communities, and young people leads to improved human capital, upward social mobility and supports children and young people out of poverty.”

Andrew Forsey OBE, National Director of Feeding Britain said:    

Today’s news will be welcomed by hundreds of thousands of parents across England.  

The support provided to children from lower incomes through the Holiday Activities Fund HAF eases the pressure on family budgets during the school holidays, enhances their access to enriching and physical activities, and gives them a healthy meal each day during the school holidays.    

This delivers a raft of benefits for children and their families, so it is excellent news that the government is extending this provision for a further three years.  

Knowing that this support will continue to be available, for the next few years, will lift a weight off their shoulders.