Background

Since 2018, our holiday activities and food programme has provided support to children in receipt of free school meals through holiday periods.

Following successful pilots between 2018 and 2020, the programme was rolled out to all upper tier local authorities in 2021.

Research has shown that the school holidays can be pressure points for some families. For some children this can lead to a holiday experience gap, with children from low-income households being:

• less likely to access organised out-of-school activities

• more likely to experience ‘unhealthy holidays’ in terms of nutrition and physical health

• more likely to experience social isolation

Our HAF programme is a response to this issue, with evidence showing that free holiday clubs can have a positive impact on children and young people, and that they work best when they:

• provide consistent and easily accessible enrichment activities

• cover more than just breakfast or lunch

• involve children (and parents) in food preparation

• use local partnerships and connections, particularly with the voluntary and community organisation sector