Winter HAF 2024

Holiday Activities and Food programme or HAF is gives eligible children the opportunity to access free activities and food over the Easter, summer and winter school holidays.

Activity programme normally take place over 4 hours a day for 4 days.  However, some of the HAF providers offer flexible programmes that may run for longer hours over less days, or shorter hours over more days.  Each eligible child will also be given a nutritious and healthy lunch on each programme day that they attend.   The HAF programme is funded by the Department for Education. 

Our HAF programme is only available to children and young people who meet all of the following criteria:

• live in Leicester city, or live outside of the city but attend a city school
• are aged between 4 to 16 and in full-time education
• are receiving benefits related free school meals

This winter you can register your child for one free programme.  Our programmes are either a:

• Full 4 day programme - Children are registered to attend 4 days of activities and receives a healthy meal each day your child attends.
• Blended programme – Programmes that run for 1, 2 or 3 days and the registered children will take home a food hamper
• Active Leicester gym pass – Multiple use passes for 14 to 16 year olds with supplementary food voucher (max 4 vouchers)

 Before you register, please consider the:

• Programme type – full day, blended or gym pass
• location of the programme and how your child will get there
• days and the time of the programme 
• age range of the programme

There over 50 programmes taking place over the holiday - view the full list of programmes (PDF).

Contact the provider by direct to request a place.  Registration closes Tuesday 3 December 2024. 

Programme places have limited space and will be offered on a first come first served basis to children who are eligible for benefits-related free school meals. 

HAF programmes are available to eligible children who have special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) and our providers endeavour to meet all children’s needs. Please provide as much information as possible about your child's needs when completing your registration form.

Our programme providers will contact you prior to the start date to discuss your child's needs and to plan for any adjustments that are required.  If a provider is not able to meet your child's needs, we will signpost you to alternative provision that may be more suitable.

View the free school meals information to find out if your child is eligible for free school meals. 

If you make an application for free school meals, you must wait for a confirmation response before applying for any programme place.