Holiday Activities and Food Programme Fund 2021

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Applications now closed.

School holidays can be 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.

Free holiday clubs are a response to this issue and evidence suggests that they 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.

In November 2020, the government announced that the holiday activities and food (HAF) programme will be expanded across the whole of England in 2021. Barking and Dagenham are seeking applications from local organisations to deliver the HAF Outcomes in the Summer and/or Christmas holidays in 2021.




Applications now closed.

School holidays can be 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.

Free holiday clubs are a response to this issue and evidence suggests that they 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.

In November 2020, the government announced that the holiday activities and food (HAF) programme will be expanded across the whole of England in 2021. Barking and Dagenham are seeking applications from local organisations to deliver the HAF Outcomes in the Summer and/or Christmas holidays in 2021.