With the summer holidays fast approaching, Devon County Council are pleased to announce that bookings are now open for their action-packed Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) programme!
Funded by the Government’s Department for Education, the scheme offers funded activities and healthy, nutritional hot meals during school holidays to children of low-income families.
This summer’s HAF programme promises a wide range of fun and educational activities for children of all ages to spark their creativity, encourage exploration, and help them develop new skills and make friends.
The Council have teamed up with over 100 different activity providers across Devon to offer more than 30,000 places to children aged five to 16 years old, who receive benefit-related free school meals.
From arts and crafts workshops to sports tournaments and outdoor activities, the programme is designed to keep children engaged, active, and well-nourished during the school break. All clubs will be operating for a minimum of four hours for four days and will include a hot meal. They have also increased the number of places for secondary school aged children, with some sessions taking place during the evenings and at weekends.
Stuart Collins, our Director of Children and Young People’s Futures, said:
“There are approximately 18500 children and young people across Devon who are eligible to attend these funded activities because they receive benefits related free school meals.
“The school holidays can be particularly difficult for some families as with children at home, the cost of food and activities can quickly mount up, particularly with the current cost of living.
“We know, from our previous Holiday Activities and Food programmes, how much children and young people value this time. It helps to keep them active during the holidays, provide them with a nutritious meal, and support them to learn new skills and make new friends in a safe and fun environment.”
Places are limited, so don’t miss out! We encourage parents and carers of children who are eligible for benefits-related free school meals to book their child’s place as soon as possible.
Parents whose children attended previous Holiday Activities and Food events, said:
“It made my son happy. He tried new things and met new friends. He enjoyed himself, which makes me happy.”
“The Holiday Activities and Food scheme allows my child to attend clubs that usually we would not be able to afford.”
“My son is severely autistic with extreme behaviour, and they managed his needs well and tailored his activities to what his interests are.”
For more information on the HAF programme, including booking details and eligibility criteria, please visit our website.
Details of activities can be found on the interactive map on our website. If your child is eligible to access the programme, simply search for a provider in your area, have a look at their listing to see what they’re offering, then when you’re ready, book a place with them directly using your unique HAF code.
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