Cambridgeshire holiday activities and food programme offers free places for enriching experiences over Easter

Funding for the Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) programme has been extended by the Department for Education into 2025.

The programme offers families the opportunity to access funded places and a meal for their child during the main school holidays of Easter, Summer, and Christmas.

With a focus on providing healthy meals alongside engaging activities, this programme is ideal for children to stay healthy and more active this Easter.

Any child receiving benefit-related free school meals is eligible for the programme, which will run between April 7 to 17.

Approximately 20,000 HAF eligibility vouchers were sent to families on March 3. Each voucher offers a child 16 hours of access, for no charge, to a HAF-registered holiday scheme during the Easter school holidays.

The Department for Education (DfE) requires local authorities to coordinate the programme which is delivered by approved providers. The Council works with schools, holiday scheme providers, district councils and voluntary and community organisations.

As part of the programme, eligible children will be able to access:

• A variety of schemes including sports, play schemes, drama, technology, outdoor adventure and youth schemes.

• Enriching experiences to develop children’s skills and confidence.

• At least one nutritious meal a day.

• Daily physical exercise through sports and/or play.

Further information can be found on the council’s website by searching for HAF programme.