The Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) programme, Stoke-on-Trent City Council’s partnership with the Hubb Foundation, runs from Saturday 23 December to Friday 5 January.
This Christmas there will be 135 in person sessions taking place, totalling 4,823 opportunities available to children between the ages of five and 16. Sessions will offer a variety of activities such as physical activities, enrichment activities and nutrition workshops; in addition to a free healthy meal. Through the programme over 1,000 lunch packs and 1,000 activity packs will be distributed to families across the city.
The key elements of the programme are:
- Healthy food
- Enriching activities
- Physical activities
- Nutritional education
- Signposting and referrals
- Policies and procedures.
Councillor Jane Ashworth, council leader said: “Christmas holiday provision is really important and HAF is a really great, free programme that gives families access to activities over the school holidays.
“We’re committed to supporting our families and communities and HAF is a clear example of working alongside our partners to make sure that children in the city have plenty of activities to be doing in the holidays with a healthy lunch thrown in.
“There’s a great range of activities across the city. Some through schools and some that parents can book onto on the Hubb Foundation website.”
Cllr Desiree Elliott, cabinet member for education, skills and anti-poverty said: “The HAF programme gives children in the city a whole range of things to do over the Christmas holidays. The activities are fun and engaging as well as keeping kids active and giving them a healthy meal.
“Alongside the Hubb Foundation, we’ve worked hard to ensure the funding from the Department for Education is put to the best use to run as many sessions as possible across the city and maximise the number of children who can access the programme.
“I’d urge any residents who wondering what to do with the kids over the Christmas holiday to check out what is on offer through HAF and book onto a session.”
The Department for Education’s HAF funding primarily supports children who receive free school meals. However, in Stoke-on-Trent, a unique partnership between Stoke-on-Trent City Council and the Hubb Foundation means more children across the city are able to access the activities programme.
Families can book community sessions across the city on the Hubb Foundation website at https://www.thehubbfoundation.com/.
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