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Enjoy a fun-filled spring with free activities

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The Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) programme is back this spring to help keep children in Gloucestershire happy, healthy, and entertained with free activities and nutritious food.

Families who are eligible for benefits-related free school meals can sign up now for spring HAF. Using grant funding the county council is once again able to extend holiday activities to all children and young people through its Holiday Activities Programme (HAP).

Both the HAF and HAP spring programmes run from Monday 14 April for two weeks during the spring school holidays.  Families are encouraged to check their district HAF websites to see what activities are available locally. To help parents plan ahead, activities can be viewed from Monday 17 March and booking opens at midday on Monday 31 March.

Now in its fifth year, HAF continues to go from strength to strength, thanks to strong and successful partnerships with local partners who help to make it all possible. Since it began, the programme has provided more than 175,000 activity sessions for children and young people across the county, helping to create memorable experiences for thousands of families who greatly value the opportunities it offers.

This spring, there are lots of exciting options to choose from including circus skills, forest school, drama and science workshops, sports and games, art and crafts, music and dance, and the ever-popular ticketed attractions. More information about the programme is available at: www.gloucestershire.gov.uk/haf.

If they haven’t done so already, families are encouraged to:

·       Register for the Children’s Activities Booking System (CABS) now to be ready to view and select activities

·       Follow their district lead on social media to stay updated on local events.

Families who need extra support to choose, book, or attend HAF activities can get support from our HAF Community Connectors. There’s also a Specialist SEND Community Connector to improve support for children and young people with additional needs.

Cllr Paul McLain, cabinet member for children’s safeguarding at Gloucestershire County Council, said: “We know how much families benefit from the Holiday Activities and Food programme as they often tell us how much they love it. I’m thrilled that it’s back this spring offering exciting activities for children and young people of all ages.

“It’s completely free for parents, making it a fantastic way for kids to stay active, learn new things, and make wonderful memories. I encourage families who haven’t registered yet to do so now, so they’re ready when booking opens. HAF Community Connectors can provide support if anyone needs assistance with choosing, booking, or attending activities.”