Funding of £3.5 million to provide free holiday activities and food for the most vulnerable children in Hampshire has been approved.

The funding comes from the Department for Education’s overall funding for the holiday activities and food (HAF) programme funding of £200 million.

The HAF programme addresses the challenges that low-income families encounter during school holidays.

Investigations indicate that without the structure and routine provided by the school, holiday times can become difficult for children, often leading to issues such as poor nutrition, lack of physical activity, and feelings of social isolation.

The programme aims to provide free places for children who are eligible for free school meals (FSM) for at least four hours a day, four days a week, for six weeks each year. This includes four weeks during the summer and one week of services during the Easter and Christmas holidays.

On January 20, 2025, the DfE announced that the HAF programme would receive £200 million in funding from 2025 to 2026. Hampshire County Council has been allocated up to £3,599,700 from this total.

A dance class takes place as part of Hampshire's HAF programme.
A dance class takes place as part of Hampshire's HAF programme. (LDRS)

The programme runs approximately 150 schemes each holiday period and supports around 8,000 children and their families each year.

It will also continue to fund the Hampshire’s Library Service and the Short Breaks programme, which enables children and young people with disabilities or additional needs to join these activities.

Since 2021, the number of benefits-eligible FSM children in Hampshire has increased by 26 per cent, from 29,208 to 36,790 in Autumn 2024.

Hampshire County Council has one of the biggest HAF programmes in the country in terms of eligible children, grant size, geographical spread and number of delivery partners.

With the funding, the council will be able to allocate 15 per cent of funded places to other vulnerable children and young people who do not meet the criteria for the benefits of the free school meal.

At her decision day, cabinet member for children’s services, Cllr Roz Chadd, said: “I’m really proud of the holiday activity and food programme. As a local authority, we deliver that with partners really well.

“I have the privilege to see the happy enjoyment of the young people who take part in those activities. It’s just absolutely wonderful.”