£1.6m grant to cover provision of free holiday activities healthy food during school holidays 2025-26
Coventry City Council has received government funding to provide some 18,000 children across the region with holiday activities and healthy food.
Three young people involved in fun activities through the Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) programme, photo courtesy of Coventry City Council
The grant is an extension to the government’s Holiday Activities and Food programme (HAF), established in 2021. The programme is aimed primarily at pupils of statutory school age who are eligible for benefits-related free school meals – though Coventry has extended eligibility to other children, too.
Some 18,000 children will be entitled to free ‘enrichment’ activities and healthy food during the Easter, Summer and Christmas school holidays of the financial year 2025-26.
The programme is delivered through a wide range of organisations across Coventry, including schools, community centres, leisure centres and sports facilities. In the past, activities have included archery, art classes, bushcraft and survival, a chef academy, cheerleading, circus skills, cooking, a forest school, go- karting, gardening, karaoke, movie-making, paintballing, photography, robotics, roller skating and swimming lessons.
In the year 2024-25, some 22,000 sessions were delivered through the programme, in which children developed skills and confidence, and made lasting friendships – all while having fun. Now that success is set to continue.
Cllr Dr Kindy Sandhu, Cabinet Member for Education and Skills at Coventry City Council, says: ‘It’s welcome news that the Government has extended the HAF programme for another 12 months as I’ve personally experienced first-hand the amazing activities on offer and how it makes such a huge, positive difference for Coventry families throughout the holiday season.
‘I’m also very pleased to see an increase in the diversity of activities in line with our principle of “something for everyone”, a stronger partnership working with family hubs including family cooking sessions, and specific activity tailored for children with special education needs at local venues.
‘I’d also like to acknowledge the additional support of Coventry Building Society and Stellantis, plus the important role that community and voluntary organisations have contributed in its success so far, everyone plays a part alongside the Council in delivering a great programme.’
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