Enfield Council’s Holiday Activities Food Programme (HAF) has been launched.
The programme aims to tackle the triple inequalities of holiday hunger, physical inactivity and social isolation.
Delivered by Enfield Council Youth Service, Enfield schools, community partners and play schemes, the programme is designed to help children and young people aged 5 to 16, in receipt of benefits relating to free school meals, to keep active, learn new skills, receive a nutritious meal and spend time with other children and young people.
The Department for Education provided funding which has allowed the Council to run the programme during Easter, summer and Christmas school holiday periods in 2021, which means thousands of places for children and young people are available at locations across the borough.
Activities include physical activity, arts and crafts, drama workshops, music, days out, cooking and many more. The activities will be face-to-face, but COVID-19 secure measures will be in place that follow current public health guidance.
Free spaces are still available and the activities are open to children and young people up to the age of 16 years who currently receive benefits-related free school meals and are entitled to 16 days’ worth of the scheme during summer. A nutritious lunch will be provided during any course that lasts for four hours or more in one day.
Children and young people who do not receive school meals are welcome to join, but their parents must provide payment for all activities their child takes part in and any meals provided.
Cllr Mahtab Uddin, Cabinet Member for Children’s Services at Enfield Council, said: “We are delighted to have received funding from the Department for Education, to deliver a wide-range of fun activities for children and young people during the school summer holidays.
“The programme will help to ensure that children and young people who are in poverty will receive nutritious meals and that no child in Enfield will go hungry this summer.”
Click here to find out more and to book activities or email: haf@enfield.gov.uk