Holiday Activities and Food Programme

The Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) Programme provides free holiday provision including healthy food and enriching activities to eligible children and young people in Brent during the school holidays.

The aims of the programme

The programme is designed to support the physical and mental health and wellbeing of children and young people. It encourages them to engage in interactive and fun activities during the holidays, offering children:

• healthy and nutritious meals
• a wide range of fun, physical, and enriching activities
• opportunities to be happy, have fun, and meet new friends
• education and understanding about food, nutrition, and other health-related issues
• activities that support their development
• a safe space for children to interact with others
• access to the right support services
• a return to school feeling engaged and ready to learn.

This programme is funded by the Department for Education, as part of a national scheme.

To be eligible for a free place, children and young people must currently be:

• in Reception to Year 11 (inclusive); and
• a resident in Brent and/or attending a Brent school; and
• receiving benefits-related free school meals (FSM) or have had their eligibility confirmed by a professional.

Please note that benefits-related free school meals are separate to the universal infant free school meals (UIFSM) scheme, which provides children in Reception, Year 1 and Year 2 with free school meals. Pupils in Reception, Year 1 and Year 2 who receive free school meals must also be eligible for benefits-related free school meals in order to access a free place on the HAF programme.

There are currently universal free school meals for all primary school children in state-funded schools for the 2025/26 academic year. This is funded through the Mayor of London and has been extended until 2028.

Proof of eligibility 

When booking a place, you will be asked to confirm your eligibility by:

• showing a copy of your school holiday supermarket voucher email (vouchers are emailed from your school)
• quoting your supermarket voucher eCode; or
• providing a confirmation of eligibility (such as an email, letter, or code) from your school, social worker, youth worker or other professional.

If you believe your child is eligible for the HAF programme but do not have proof of eligibility, please speak to the relevant holiday club provider when booking a place, and they will be able to assist you.   

Siblings

Siblings of children who meet the above criteria may also be able to access Brent HAF programme places, please speak to the relevant holiday club provider and they will be able to assist you.   

The Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) programme is inclusive - meaning it aims to make activities accessible for all young people. Children and young people need to be aged 4–16 and either live or attend a school in Brent. The HAF programme in Brent provides free meals and activities for: 4 days in the Easter holidays, 16 days in the summer holidays and 4 days in the Christmas holidays.

Parents/ carers must inform the HAF provider of their children’s needs before registering and booking a place, this is to ensure that the young person is appropriately supported during activities. This may include details of their EHCP, medications and any allergies.

Each participating young person can access:

• free healthy meals each day
• fun and inclusive activities such as arts, sports, sensory play, music, drama and so much more
• supportive staff trained to work with children with additional needs
• safe and accessible environments designed to support a variety of abilities
• opportunities for socialising and building confidence
• SEND support and adjustments.

Please note that spaces are limited so bookings are based on first come, first served.

HAF funding does not include transportation. Parents/ carers will need to arrange transport for their children to and from HAF programmes.

Providers are encouraged to:

• offer one-to-one or small group support if needed
• adapt activities to suit different learning and physical needs
• provide accessible venues, e.g., wheelchair access, quiet zones, sensory areas
• work in partnership with parents/carers to understand the child’s individual support plan (EHCP).

How to apply

Parents/ carers can:

Contact providers, details can be found on the provider tab of this webpage or alternatively contact the HAF Team on haf@brent.gov.uk
Indicate SEND support requirements on the application form

Note that the HAF programme does not cover activities for half term holidays.

Please contact the Children Families Information Service for further information on activities during half term holidays. 

If you work with children and young people who receive benefits related free school meals, please share information on the programme with them and their families, to encourage them to access the offer. Parents and carer of children who receive benefits related free school meals should receive confirmation of their child's HAF eligibility via the supermarket vouchers issued ahead of each school holiday that are funded via the government’s Household Support Fund.

If the children and young people you work with don’t receive benefits related free school meals, but you believe that they could benefit from the programme, they may be able to access a HAF programme place if they meet the other HAF programme eligibility criteria. Please email haf@brent.gov.uk for full details of this additional eligibility criteria. 

To refer children and young people into the HAF programme, please provide them with written confirmation of their HAF eligibility, confirming whether they are accessing the programme via their FSM entitlement or they meet another eligibility criteria. Children, young people and parent/carers will then be able to use this when booking a place.