Children across the country could be entitled to free meals and activities during the summer holidays, but it’s important that parents check with their local council
Parents across England could be eligible for free support for their children during the summer holidays. Free meals and other help is being offered to kids during the long break from school.
It is all being done through various schemes run by councils across England. If your child qualifies for benefits-related free school meals, they might be entitled to this additional support – even if they’re too young to actually receive these meals at school.
It is all part of the Holiday Activity and Food Programme (HAF). The scheme typically operates over school holidays, including the summer break.
Its main aim is to provide children aged four and above with access to activities and one free meal a day. However, each council runs its own version of the HAF scheme.
Therefore the way it’s implemented can vary depending on your local authority. Despite this, every one of them is obliged to offer the equivalent of six weeks’ worth of support each year to all eligible children.
This minimum requirement is usually spread out over the long school holidays. Typically, four days are allocated for the Easter holidays and another four days for the Christmas holidays.
For the summer, you can expect a minimum of three to four weeks of support. The total depends on the length of your child’s summer holiday.
How to apply for the HAF scheme
While the scheme is available to many parents, it’s not an automatic enrolment for their children. Instead, they must apply themselves.
The application process isn’t standardised. It varies from council to council.
Some councils issue a HAF code to children via their school, which can be used on books, while others offer small grants for activities. To find out how your council provides support, you should get in touch with them directly.
If you’re unsure about which council to contact, the government’s free online tool can help you locate your local council, along with their contact details and other important information.
