Lancaster District Holiday Activities and Food Programme 2024
Thank you, to all our providers that supported us in delivering the Holiday Activity and Food (HAF) programme in 2023. Following on from this success, we are now looking for providers to deliver HAF 2024.
For those new to HAF, the programme is funded by the Department for Education to local councils to provide school holiday activities, including food, to children who are eligible for free school meals.
Information for providers
We are seeking to fund a diverse range of projects and activities to engage school children of all ages and abilities.
Activities can be open to all, but priority should be given to children receiving benefits-related free school meals. Places for children who are in receipt of benefits-related free school meals will be made available at no cost to the family. Children who are not in receipt of benefits-related free school meals can pay to attend if there are sufficient spaces. A limited number of spaces can be allocated to other children in need with the agreement of Lancaster City Council.
Aim of the programme
School holidays can be particular pressure points for some families because of increased costs (such as food and childcare) and reduced incomes. For some children that can lead to a holiday experience gap, with children from disadvantaged families:
- 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
The objectives of the programme are to:
- provide healthy meals over the school holidays (at least one meal for every day of provision).
- enable children to be more active over the school holidays
- provide engaging and enriching activities which supports the development of resilience, character, and wellbeing
- ensure children are kept safe and prevent social isolation
- provide opportunities for children and families to develop knowledge of nutrition and how to cook healthy meals
- increase awareness of how to access services available to support children and families
Who can apply?
This fund is open to the voluntary and community sector, schools, local authority, and private providers who can meet the objectives of the programme.
To be eligible for the funding, free places for activities must be made available throughout the Summer period.
- To be eligible for Summer funding, providers must be able to provide face to face provision for a minimum of 4 weeks, 4 days and 4 hours. The Summer holiday period in 2024 is Tuesday 23rd July to Friday 30th August.
- Applications for interested providers are open until 31st May 2024.
Useful guidance documents for providers can be found here:
- Holiday Activities and Food Programme 2023
- School Food Standards
- Physical Activity Guidelines
- Allergy guidance for schools
- Working together to safeguard children
- Protective measures for holiday and after-school clubs, and other out-of-school settings during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak
- Registration exemptions
If you would like to know more about the HAF programme, or have any queries around the requirements in place to fulfil the aims of the programme,.please email HAF@lancaster.gov.uk or visit the Holiday Activities and Food programme on GOV.UK
Last updated: 20 May 2024