A free programme of holiday activities each of which include a healthy meal funded by the Government and coordinated by West Suffolk Council on behalf of Suffolk County Council is now open for bookings.
The national Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) programme is primarily aimed at children under 16s who receive benefits related free school meals. The Government funded scheme was set up to help support them during the school holidays when they may not otherwise get a hot meal.
Eligibility for HAF is set out by The Department for Education (DfE). It includes children and families who are on benefits related free school meals or pupil premium or where there is an identified need (such as being in care, bereavement, or if they are homeless).
We are working with 26 providers offering a mix of swimming, various sports, arts and crafts, film making, theatre trips, horse riding, roller skating, outdoor cooking, Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) and more.
To enquire or book these places you can use the details on the timetable below. You should have also received an email directly from your child’s school.
Booking is through an online platform called Eequ at Search learning experiences · Eequ which details all the provisions across the county. Schools are also being given information to help any parents who cannot access online to book.
West Suffolk Council recognises that there will be other families in need of support who are not eligible. It is allowed to use up to 15 per cent of its share of the Government funding to offer free places to families in need of support who wouldn’t otherwise qualify.
Any families in West Suffolk who are ineligible for HAF but who need support will need prior approval before they apply through the Search learning experiences · Eequ otherwise their application may be rejected.
To apply they will need to contact the activity provider for each of the activities that they are interested in to ask about applying for a discretionary place or places. The activities and activity providers’ contact details can be seen on the Search learning experiences · Eequ Alternatively see the council’s #westsuffolksummerhaf25 posts on Facebook and Instagram.
Discretionary spaces for families who aren’t eligible under HAF are limited and will be decided by Suffolk County Council on a first come first served basis.
