Free activities and meals for children across Preston during Christmas holidays

Children enjoying the HAF Programme. Pic: Lancashire County Council

Preston North End Community and Education Trust are one of the nine organisations running clubs in Preston, as part of the Winter Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) programme. Free activities and meals will be provided for children from low-income families during the Christmas holidays.

Spaces are available at different venues including St Augustines Primary School, St Bernards Primary School and Moor Nook Centre – a full list of venues can be read here. The scheme is for children aged 4-16 on free school meals or who have SEND.

The clubs will run between 27 of December and 5 of January 2024, with four hours of activities a day. Children have options such as sports, gardening, arts and crafts, cooking and video games.

Other districts in Lancashire taking part in the scheme include Fylde, Chorley, Ribble Valley and South Ribble. Each has its own booking system online.

Children are eligible for a HAF place if they are entitled to benefits-related free school meals, if they are a young carer, have SEND or if their family are being supported by Children’s Social Care.

Families are being urged to not delay booking as they are expecting the Christmas programme to be popular. In the Summer, 14,351 children in total attended the HAF club, which was 1,302 more than the previous year.

Cosima Towneley, Lancashire County Council’s cabinet member for Children and Young families said: “Our Holiday Activities and Food programme is going from strength to strength and we are helping more and more families with each new programme.

“It offers such fantastic opportunities to keep children active during the holidays, eat a nutritious meal, learn new skills and make new friends in a safe and fun environment.

“HAF is also a lifeline for many parents who we know find the holidays a difficult time and I am thrilled that more families are benefitting from this brilliant provision with each new programme.”

The Holiday and Activity Food (HAF) Programme is a national scheme, with funding from the Department for Education.

For more information visit: https://www.lancashire.gov.uk/children-education-families/school-holiday-activities/