Feeding Britain is pleased to be part of the HAF Alliance working to ensure no child goes hungry in the school holidays.
Thanks to generous support from Comic Relief, Meals and More and the Health Lottery, Feeding Britain has been able to create 33,743 holiday places this summer, giving thousands of children the chance to take part in enriching activities while receiving nutritious food. Across all programmes, 92,290 meals were served, and a total of 6,990 children were reached, ensuring widespread impact in communities across the country.
“Knowing they had a healthy breakfast and lunch each day really eased the pressure at home.” – Feedback from a parent/guardian
The range of activities was enormous and helped to keep children active and fulfilled this summer. At Ad Astra in Barnsley, young people worked with a community artist to create murals, graffiti art, windchimes and bookmarks, alongside trips to Bridlington, Cannon Hall, and Wigfield Farm. Cornwall Neighbourhoods for Change hosted a Family Fun Day in the park, with sports games, glitter tattoos, DJ workshops, and a bouncy castle. In Liverpool, Autism Adventures ran outdoor events with forest school, crafts and music. Meanwhile, Key Community in South Shields organised a trip to Beadnell Bay, where children learned about sea creatures, explored rockpools, and competed in sandcastle building.
At Bonny Downs in Newham, children and young people took part in gym sessions, yoga, painting, cooking, gardening, RC car racing, and Zorb ball activities, while also enjoying healthy meals in line with school food standards. At Skeoge Community Hub, the holiday programme included arts and crafts, mindfulness, swimming, horse riding, and a trip to Rosepark Farm, with children receiving breakfast, hot lunches, and take-home snacks each day. Solidarity Sports in London and SVP Deaf Centre also ran vibrant programmes, while the Bluewatch Centre in Sunderland offered young people the chance to volunteer at the holiday club, building skills, confidence, and a sense of purpose through community service.
“I don’t know how to thank you for the school bags with activities. You brought joy to my children’s hearts and allowed them to spend time playing. You helped me a lot, especially since I went through difficult circumstances during the holidays due to my illness, and after that, the children got sick one after another. Thank you again for your support. We hope you have a happy holiday.” – Feedback from a parent/ guardian
Together, these projects show the huge difference holiday programmes can make – not just in providing food, but in giving children and young people new opportunities, creative outlets, and joyful experiences during the school holidays. This summer’s programme demonstrates the vital support that holiday programmes provide by easing financial pressure on families, helping tackle social mobility and skills development, and offering access to wider support systems as just some of the benefits of the HAF programme.
We’re thrilled that this work will be able to continue thanks to the Government’s recent announcement that England’s Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) programme will be extended for three years. Having led the successful campaign eight years ago, with our School Holidays (Meals and Activities) Bill, for the introduction of HAF as a nationwide programme, we strongly welcome this latest commitment. It will maintain for families on lower incomes across England a greater sense of choice, freedom, and opportunity that HAF is able to offer during the school holidays, and ensure its many benefits are widespread. We are really looking forward to continuing to make HAF as strong as possible in the years ahead.