On 8 November 2020, the government announced that the holiday activities and food programme will be expanded across the whole of England in 2021 and will cover the Easter, summer and Christmas holidays in 2021.
Active Herefordshire and Worcestershire are working closely with Worcestershire and Herefordshire County Councils to support in creating and embedding a physical activity offer within holiday provision offers.
School holidays can be particular pressure points for some families because of increased costs (such as food and childcare) and reduced incomes. For some children that can lead to a holiday experience gap, with children from disadvantaged families:
- less likely to access organised out-of-school activities
- more likely to experience 'unhealthy holidays' in terms of nutrition and physical health
- more likely to experience social isolation
Free holiday clubs are a response to this issue and evidence suggests that they can have a positive impact on children and young people and that they work best when they:
- provide consistent and easily accessible enrichment activities
- cover more than just breakfast or lunch
- involve children (and parents) in food preparation
The free holiday club places must be targeted at children who are eligible for and receiving benefits-related free school meals. However, we encourage holiday activity providers to make the holiday clubs available to any children not eligible for and in receipt of free school meals, who can pay to attend.
The aim of the HAF funding is to ensure children:
- eat more healthily over the school holidays
- be more active during the school holidays
- take part in engaging and enriching activities which support the development of resilience, character and wellbeing along with their wider educational attainment
- be safe and not to be socially isolated
- have a greater knowledge of health and nutrition
- be more engaged with school and other local services
To find out more information on the Worcestershire HAF holiday activities available, visit the https://www.worcestershire.gov.uk/rsw
Activity Resources
There are a number of physical activity resources available that will help you to provide fun, engaging and effective activities aimed at all ages. Below are some examples:
Sport England has teamed up with the Youth Sport Trust to develop a new online resource that will help more children be physically active. The new, free Active Recovery hub hosts hundreds of practical ideas to get children moving throughout the day. You are able to search for activities by age and the time of day they want to get active.
The activities are provided by sports organisations and there are a diverse range of inclusive activities to choose from. The new hub provides the ideal platform to get all young people more active and will provide valuable support for providers planning their summer HAF programme.
Alternative resources and activity ideas:
School Games - https://www.yourschoolgames.com/active-recovery/
Boing (Must register a free account to access free activity resources) - https://www.boingkids.co.uk/boing-for-coaches.html
Street Games - see link to activity resource below
Street Games Activity Cards (PDF, 891 Kb)
Guidance and Support
If you require guidance or support in how to place physical activity as a key part of your Holiday Activity and Food fund programme, then please contact Kerrie O'Mahony, Project Manager (CYP) on k.omahony@worc.ac.uk.
Kerrie O'Mahony
Project Manager (Children & Young People)
- Children and Young People Programmes
- Virtual Schools
- Strategic Lead for the School Games
- Physical Activity and Health
- This Girl Can Programme
- Active Lives
- Safeguarding Officer
- Mobile
- 07766 611946
- k.omahony@worc.ac.uk
- Website
- https://www.activehw.co.uk/cyp
