02nd September 2025
HAF programme three year extension celebrated
Active Sussex welcomes the news that the Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) programme has been extended.
The Department for Education announced last week that it will invest £600 million over three years into the programme.
One person who has benefited from the programme is 15-year-old Paralympian Bly Twomey, who attends Brighton Table Tennis Club and won the Sports Personality Year category at the Sussex Sport & Physical Activity Awards in 2024.
“The first time I went to Holiday Activities and Food Club, I didn’t really want to participate, but everyone was so nice and involved me from the start. I then started going to the club regularly and it wasn’t long before I got invited to join the British Para Table Tennis squad, which led me to the Paralympics last year!
“I had only been playing three years so it felt like a dream come true. I wouldn’t have found the sport or the club without HAF.
“I love that children with disadvantages can have the opportunities like I have through this initiative. Brighton Table Tennis Club isn’t just a club, it’s a family and I am so pleased they found me and I found them.”
The HAF programme supports children from reception to year 11 from lower-income families by providing free meals and enriching activities during school holidays. It helps close the development gap, boosts confidence and social skills, and has already reached over half a million children in the past year.
Active Sussex supports Brighton and Hove City Council, East Sussex County Council and West Sussex County Council with the HAF programme.
The Active Partnerships Network said: “This funding is vital as it ensures that children and young people have access to healthy food and supports them to be active during the school holidays.
“Congratulations to everyone who has been advocating for an extension to funding, including our partners in the HAF Alliance.”
Andrew Forsey OBE, National Director of Feeding Britain said: “The support provided to children from lower incomes through the Holiday Activities Fund HAF eases the pressure on family budgets during the school holidays, enhances their access to enriching and physical activities, and gives them a healthy meal each day during the school holidays.
“This delivers a raft of benefits for children and their families, so it is excellent news that the government is extending this provision for a further three years.”
Meghan Meek-O’Connor – Policy Lead UK Child Poverty, Save the Children UK said: “The extension of the Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) programme for the next three years is another welcome move from the UK Government to tackle child poverty and lift the financial pressure on families over the school holidays.
“All children deserve summer holidays filled with fun and adventure, and HAF will ensure no child misses out because of a lack of money. We are pleased to see another step forward in what we hope will be an ambitious strategy to tackle child poverty from the UK Government.”
