HAF
HEALTHY ACTIVITIES AND FOOD
In response to the persistent issue of child poverty in the UK, initiatives like the Healthy Holiday programs have been established to support vulnerable children during school breaks. These programs provide nutritious meals, physical activities, and educational opportunities to children who might otherwise go without proper food and stimulation outside of term time.
By offering a safe and engaging environment, Healthy Holiday programs aim to mitigate the adverse effects of poverty, such as food insecurity and social isolation, which can intensify when regular school services are unavailable.
These initiatives are often funded through a combination of government support, charitable organizations, and community efforts, reflecting a collaborative approach to addressing child poverty. By ensuring children have access to healthy food and enriching activities during holidays, these programs help promote better health, well-being, and educational outcomes, ultimately striving to break the cycle of poverty.
The Holiday activities and food (HAF) programme provides free holiday club sessions. They are for school aged children (from Reception to Year 11) who get income-assessed/benefits–related free school meals. The programme is funded by the Department for Education.
What the holiday clubs offer. The free holiday clubs offer many activities during the Easter, summer, and winter school holidays. These include sports, dance, drama, songwriting and trips.
Children also receive a nutritious meal whilst at the club.
RUY FOR THE HOLIDAYS
By collaborating effectively, the Reach Up Team ensures a successful and impactful holiday program, offering essential support and enriching experiences to children and their families.
Coordinators:
- Coordinate volunteer schedules and assignments.
- Oversee the procurement, preparation, and distribution of food.
- Ensure compliance with safeguarding policies to protect families.
- Liaise with local agencies and organizations for additional support and resources.
- Monitor programme effectiveness and gather feedback for continuous improvement.
Volunteers:
- Encourage children to participate in activities, nurturing a fun and inclusive environment.
- Conduct risk assessments to ensure the safety of all participants during activities.
- Handle registrations, maintaining accurate records of attendance and participant information.
- Set up and manage various activities, ensuring they are engaging and age appropriate.
- Provide parents with information about the program, its benefits, and how to get involved.
- Assist with meal distribution, ensuring all children receive nutritious food.
- Support children with special needs or those who require additional attention.
