Derby’s Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) programme has received a major boost, with confirmation of a further three years of government funding as part of a £600 million national investment.
HAF provides children who receive benefits-related free school meals with fun, engaging activities during the school holidays, along with a nutritious lunch at every session.
Funded by the Department for Education and delivered locally by Derby City Council in partnership with Community Action Derby. HAF forms part of the government’s Best Start in Life mission, ensuring that a child’s background does not determine their future success. Since its launch, HAF has provided 10.7 million activity days for children across the UK. In Derby, during 2024–25 alone, the programme supported almost 6,000 children including 901 with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) and delivered more than 25,000 meals.
The new funding announcement will see around £200 million per year invested into HAF nationally over the next three years. For Derby, this means the programme - originally only scheduled to run until Winter 2025 - will now continue until at least 2028. The funding will allow the city’s network of activity providers, including specialist SEND provision, to grow further and give children of all ages and abilities something to look forward to during school breaks.
Councillor Paul Hezelgrave, Derby City Council Cabinet Member for Children, Young People and Skills, said:
We’re delighted to have another three years of HAF funding, allowing us to support Derby’s most vulnerable communities during these challenging financial times. We’re fortunate to have a fantastic range of holiday club providers who work closely with the council to give children great experiences, encouraging active minds, creativity and social connections along with a free lunchtime meal during school breaks.
HAF clubs in Derby offer a wide range of activities, from circus skills, music production and animal encounters to wheelchair basketball, forest schools and sports days. Some also organise exciting trips, including indoor climbing, theatre visits and even days at the seaside.
One provider, Roll With Us CIC, specialises in immersive Dungeons & Dragons sessions. This summer, children dived into imaginative worlds created by skilled facilitators, learning the game, making new friends, and sharing plenty of laughs along the way.
Katie Walford, founder of Roll With Us, said:
Youth mental health is at the core of Roll With Us, a safe, welcoming, creative, expressive and fun space that gives our young people a chance to make friends, escape reality and develop skills essential to resilience, as well as Mathematics and English language. Knowing HAF can offer vital resources and support to families during the school holidays, and for Roll With Us to be part of that, means a great deal to me.
Looking ahead to Winter 2025, the programme will once again offer a wide variety of clubs across the city, alongside some special festive family activities. Bookings will open in early December. Eligible families should look out for an email from Holiday Activities, containing all the details they need to secure a place.
Organisations interested in becoming a holiday club provider can find out more on our website.