The Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) Programme provides free holiday provision including healthy food and enriching activities to eligible children and young people in Brent during the school holidays.
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Holiday Activities and Food Programme
About HAF
HAF programme activities cover 4 days over the Easter and Christmas holidays, and 16 days over the summer holidays for 4 hours each day.
The aims of the programme
The programme is designed to support the physical and mental health and wellbeing of children and young people. It encourages them to engage in interactive and fun activities during the holidays, offering children:
- healthy and nutritious meals
- a wide range of fun, physical, and enriching activities
- opportunities to be happy, have fun, and meet new friends
- education and understanding about food, nutrition, and other health-related issues
- activities that support their development
- a safe space for children to interact with others
- access to the right support services
- a return to school feeling engaged and ready to learn.
This programme is funded by the Department for Education, as part of a national scheme.
Who can attend
To be eligible for a free place, children and young people must currently be:
- in Reception to Year 11 (inclusive); and
- a resident in Brent and/or attending a Brent school; and
- receiving benefits-related free school meals (FSM) or have had their eligibility confirmed by a professional.
Please note that benefits-related free school meals are separate to the universal infant free school meals (UIFSM) scheme, which provides children in Reception, Year 1 and Year 2 with free school meals. Pupils in Reception, Year 1 and Year 2 who receive free school meals must also be eligible for benefits-related free school meals in order to access a free place on the HAF programme.
There are currently universal free school meals for all primary school children in state-funded schools for the 2025/26 academic year. This is funded through the Mayor of London and has been extended until 2028.
Proof of eligibility
When booking a place, you will be asked to confirm your eligibility by:
- showing a copy of your school holiday supermarket voucher email (vouchers are emailed from your school)
- quoting your supermarket voucher eCode; or
- providing a confirmation of eligibility (such as an email, letter, or code) from your school, social worker, youth worker or other professional.
If you believe your child is eligible for the HAF programme but do not have proof of eligibility, please speak to the relevant holiday club provider when booking a place, and they will be able to assist you.
Siblings
Siblings of children who meet the above criteria may also be able to access Brent HAF programme places, please speak to the relevant holiday club provider and they will be able to assist you.
HAF for SEND children
The Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) programme is inclusive - meaning it aims to make activities accessible for all young people. Children and young people need to be aged 4–16 and either live or attend a school in Brent. The HAF programme in Brent provides free meals and activities for: 4 days in the Easter holidays, 16 days in the summer holidays and 4 days in the Christmas holidays.
Parents/ carers must inform the HAF provider of their children’s needs before registering and booking a place, this is to ensure that the young person is appropriately supported during activities. This may include details of their EHCP, medications and any allergies.
Each participating young person can access:
- free healthy meals each day
- fun and inclusive activities such as arts, sports, sensory play, music, drama and so much more
- supportive staff trained to work with children with additional needs
- safe and accessible environments designed to support a variety of abilities
- opportunities for socialising and building confidence
- SEND support and adjustments.
Please note that spaces are limited so bookings are based on first come, first served.
HAF funding does not include transportation. Parents/ carers will need to arrange transport for their children to and from HAF programmes.
Providers are encouraged to:
- offer one-to-one or small group support if needed
- adapt activities to suit different learning and physical needs
- provide accessible venues, e.g., wheelchair access, quiet zones, sensory areas
- work in partnership with parents/carers to understand the child’s individual support plan (EHCP).
How to apply
Parents/ carers can:
Contact providers, details can be found on the provider tab of this webpage or alternatively contact the HAF Team on haf@brent.gov.uk
Indicate SEND support requirements on the application form
Note that the HAF programme does not cover activities for half term holidays.
Please contact the Children Families Information Service for further information on activities during half term holidays.
Information for professionals
If you work with children and young people who receive benefits related free school meals, please share information on the programme with them and their families, to encourage them to access the offer. Parents and carer of children who receive benefits related free school meals should receive confirmation of their child's HAF eligibility via the supermarket vouchers issued ahead of each school holiday that are funded via the government’s Household Support Fund.
If the children and young people you work with don’t receive benefits related free school meals, but you believe that they could benefit from the programme, they may be able to access a HAF programme place if they meet the other HAF programme eligibility criteria. Please email haf@brent.gov.uk for full details of this additional eligibility criteria.
To refer children and young people into the HAF programme, please provide them with written confirmation of their HAF eligibility, confirming whether they are accessing the programme via their FSM entitlement or they meet another eligibility criteria. Children, young people and parent/carers will then be able to use this when booking a place.
Information for providers
Application are now open. Submit an expression of interest by midnight on 1 February 2026.
About HAF
Brent Council has been awarded funding from the Department for Education (DfE). to deliver the Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) Programme. The programme provides free holiday activities, healthy meals and enriching experiences that help children stay active, feel safe and supported, learn about nutrition, build friendships, and return to school engaged and ready to learn.
Children and young people can access:
- a minimum of 4 days of HAF activities during the Easter and Christmas holidays
- a minimum of 16 days of HAF activities during the summer holidays
Providers do not need to cover every week of the programme period, the duration of each provision can be flexible. View information on community school holiday dates.
The HAF Programme is available to school‑aged children in Brent who are in Reception to Year 11 and receive benefits‑related free school meals.
This year, Brent Council are also keen to receive applications from providers who work with children and young people facing additional challenges, including those at risk of exclusion from school, living in temporary accommodation, or identified as Children in Need.
View full information on who can attend.
Expression of interest for HAF grant funding
If you are interested in being part of the Brent HAF Programme during any holiday period in 2026, please outline your proposal by completing the below expression of interest form by midnight on 1 February 2026.
Late submissions will not be considered unless agreed in advance which shall be at the Council’s sole discretion.
Information you need to provide
You should include as much detail as possible about the activities you plan to deliver. We understand that plans for later in the year may not be confirmed. You can therefore provide indicative information that is yet to be confirmed, where needed.
Before you apply, please read the guidance notes below to understand how your proposal will be assessed.
Guidance notes
Below are additional details on how applications are assessed, scored and funded.
How your application will be assessed
The information you provide in your expression of interest form will form your full proposal. Brent Council will use this to award grant funding in a way that is efficient, open and transparent, and in line with the DfE HAF programme standards and funding criteria.
All submissions will be reviewed by a panel of council officers and scored out of 5 against the following criteria:
- food provision
- increasing awareness of healthy eating, healthy lifestyles and positive behaviours
- physical activities
- enrichment activities
- signposting, referrals and support for families
- policies and procedures
- value for money
- links to Brent and the local community
- previous experience delivering HAF or similar programmes
- equality, diversity and inclusion.
Further detail about these criteria can be found in the national HAF guidance on GOV.UK.
Scoring scales
The expression of interest scoring criteria is outlined below:
- 5 (Outstanding): The information submitted provides good evidence that all the relevant submission criteria can be met and the proposal is outstanding. Exemplary, provides full confidence and no concerns.
- 4 (Good): The information submitted provides good evidence that all the relevant criteria can be met. Full and robust response, any concerns are addressed so that the proposal gives confidence.
- 3 (Satisfactory): The information submitted provides some good evidence to meet the relevant submission criteria. It is satisfactory in most respects and there are no major concerns.
- 2 (Some Reservations): The information submitted has some minor omissions in respect of the relevant submission criteria. The response satisfies the basic minimum requirements in some respects but is unsatisfactory in other respects and raises some concerns.
- 1 (Major Reservations): The information submitted has insufficient evidence that the specified criteria can be met. Significant omissions, serious and/or many concerns.
- 0 (Unacceptable): The bid does not offer this element of the programme, or fundamentally fails to meet the relevant submission requirements to address the Council’s requirements. Insufficient evidence that the specified criteria can be met.
How funding decisions are made
Funding will be allocated based on the average cost per place per day across all successful applications. Specialist provision is excluded from this calculation. Other local needs and priorities will also be considered, including, ward distribution, age range and variety of activities.
Key dates and contact
You will be informed of the outcome as soon as possible after your proposal has been reviewed.
| Timetable of events | Date |
|---|---|
| HAF Programme 2026 expression of interest opens | 14 January 2026 |
| Deadline to submit expression of interest (including Proposal) | Midnight on Thursday 1 February 2026 |
| Proposals reviewed | 2 February to 20 February 2026 |
| Decisions sent to applicants | From week commencing 23 February 2026 |
The timetable below is indicative only and the Council reserves the right, in its absolute discretion, to amend any of the dates set out in the indicative timetable or elsewhere.
Drop‑in support sessions
We will hold online HAF application drop‑in sessions where organisations can ask questions and receive support with their application:
- Tuesday 20 January, 2pm–4pm
- Thursday 22 January, 10am–12pm
Contact
If you have any questions, or difficulties completing or submitting this form, please email HAF@Brent.gov.uk
Holiday Activities and Food Programme
Find more information about the Holiday Activities and Food Programme (HAF)