The Blackpool Holiday Activities and Food programme (HAF) is funded by the government and provides healthy food and activities for children who receive free school meals.
We work with local providers to provide a wide range of activities, health and nutrition information, and free healthy meals each day to children and young people.
Department for Education (DfE) funding covers the HAF Programme for the Easter, Christmas and summer holidays. When funding permits, Blackpool Council will endeavour to fund the remaining school holidays to support the overwhelming need in the town.
Places on the holiday schemes are available free of charge to children aged 4 – 16 who receive benefits-related free school meals. Check if your child can get free school meals.
The programme provides children with delicious, healthy meals, and it encourage them to get active, learn new things, make friends and have fun.
All bookings are being made directly with the organisations running the holiday clubs. If you aren’t sure if you are eligible, please speak to your child’s school.
We want to regularly engage with a wide network of community-based organisations from across the town. These include existing holiday care providers, schools, sports, music groups and creative providers and any others who would like to take part.
We would like to hear from providers who can deliver within one or more areas of Blackpool. Providers who would be willing to expand their provision to meet the needs of a wider group of children and families within the town would also be welcome. We would be delighted to discuss ideas providers might have.
If you’d like to know more about the HAF programme, please email publichealth@blackpool.gov.uk, visit the DfE’s Holiday Activities and Food programme webpage or search #BlackpoolHAF and #HAF2024 on X/Twitter.
If you need advice on eating better, visit the Healthier Families page on the NHS website.
If you would like to register your business for the HAF programme, visit The Chest: North West Procurement Portal or contact publichealth@blackpool.gov.uk for further information.
The HAF programme is for children aged from 4 to 16 years old in receipt of benefit-related free school meals. Children from all backgrounds are welcome to attend.
If your child does not meet the criteria for free school meal funding, there may be a charge for attending. Please contact the organisation running the holiday club to discuss further. Attendance to these holiday clubs is not compulsory. Local authorities are asked to ensure that the offer of free holiday club provision is available for all children eligible for and in receipt of free school meals in their area.
This does not mean they are all required to attend as this is voluntary.
The holiday activities and food programme (HAF) is being funded by the Department for Education. The aim of the programme is to make free holiday places available to children receiving benefits-related free school meals for the equivalent of at least four hours a day, four days a week and for six weeks a year.
The Department for Education (DfE) funding covers the HAF Programme for the Easter, Christmas and summer holidays, and when funding permits, Blackpool Council will endeavour to fund the remaining school holidays to support the overwhelming need in the town.
Many activities will be inclusive and able to support children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). Please contact our providers directly for more information.
Holiday clubs must provide at least one meal a day (breakfast, lunch or tea) and all food provided (including snacks) must meet school food standards.
Meals can be hot or cold. Further information can be found on the Food Standard Agency website.
Applications are currently closed but we’d love to hear from organisations that would like to offer activities or food in future holidays.
For more information, please email publichealth@blackpool.gov.uk
