The new spring Holiday, Activity and Food programme (HAF) has gone live, with children able to enjoy free activities and healthy food options from Saturday 12 April to Sunday 27 April.
The programme provides the chance for Coventry children to have four activities and one free experience throughout the spring break. Local families are being encouraged to find out if they are eligible more as activities get booked up.
Around 18,000 children will be eligible for the programme, with over 75 new activities happening this spring, all thanks to a £1.6m grant awarded to Coventry from the Government to continue the successful programme.
The Coventry programme has had an overwhelmingly positive reception, with 22,000 sessions provided and in 2024, 95-100% of HAF users would recommend it to other people.
Cllr Dr Kindy Sandhu, Cabinet Member, Education and Skills, detailed how great the programme is for children and families as she noted: “Children and young people will not only be able to benefit from a healthy meal, but they will also be able to learn about their city’s heritage and culture at brilliant venues, develop their skills and be able to make friends along the way.
“I appreciate that for many families, the cost of living remains a challenge which is why good quality and family-friendly programmes such as these are vitally important to local communities. I hope many people get online or in touch to see if they are eligible to sign-up for the programme and I look forward to popping along in April to see some of the activities first-hand.”
The HAF programme, which has been running since 2021, gives children the opportunity to join activities and experiences throughout Coventry for free, with a nutritious meal, available for any children who meet the entry requirements.
HAF also offers opportunities such as free sessions to The Wave, Planet Ice and other outdoor trips and activities like multi-sports, coding, cooking, skateboarding, performing arts, photography and more.
The programme is primarily for pupils of statutory school age, who are eligible for benefits-related free school meals and Coventry has extended eligibility to other children as well.
The HAF programme also gives extra access for children with additional needs, so all children eligible should be able to attend most activities.
To find out if you are eligible, or if you want more information on the HAF spring programme visit coventry.gov.uk/haf or contact the Customer Contact team at 08085 834