Over half a million children set to benefit in 2026 from free
meals and activities as families face the festive squeeze.
In the aftermath of Christmas and the cost of living still
biting, new figures show government-funded holiday clubs are
throwing families a lifeline - helping 9 in 10 parents worry less
about money during the school holidays.
Backed by a £600 million investment to extend the programme for
another three years, Best Start Holiday Activities and Food (HAF)
clubs offer certainty to lower-income families so their children
can access free nutritious meals and fun activities during the
Easter, summer and Christmas breaks.
The programme saves parents up to £300 a year and helps tackle
holiday hunger – the gap that opens up when children who rely on
free school meals during term time suddenly go without. These
savings are on top of up to £8,000 saved through free breakfast
clubs and government funded childcare.
And it's not just about putting food on the table. Nearly all
parents say Best Start HAF clubs helped their child try something
new (94%), with children enjoying cultural activities (86%) and
growing in confidence (90%). Meanwhile, 95% of parents said the
clubs made it easier to get to work over the holidays.
Mum of two from Cornwall shares her story:
"Time to Move has been a lifesaver during the school holidays. As
a single mum with only one income, the holidays are always tough
financially as everything is so expensive.
"My two children have absolutely loved going - it provides them
with fun things to do, a nice lunch and socialising with other
children."
The investment forms part of the government's Child Poverty
Strategy, which aims to lift 550,000 children out of poverty by
2030.
Education Secretary said:
"Every parent knows the pressure school holidays can bring – the
worry about keeping children fed, entertained and cared for while
juggling work and stretched household budgets.
"Holiday clubs are real, tangible support reaching over half a
million children – giving families breathing room when they need
it most and helping parents stay in work without having to choose
between their job and their child's wellbeing.
"Through Best Start HAF clubs, free breakfast clubs, and the
reversal of the two-child limit, we are determined to break the
link between a child's background and their future."
The Best Start Holiday Activities and Food programme provides
free places for school-aged children from reception to year 11
who receive benefits-related free school meals. To find a club
near you, contact your local council.
NOTES TO EDITORS
- Survey carried out by Northumbria University, of 20,000
parents and carers from across 50 English local authorities
- This is the largest survey of Holiday Activities and Food
Programme provision to date
- Full survey here
Professor Greta Defeyter OBE, Dean of Social Mobility at
Northumbria University and lead author on the national parents
and carers HAF survey, said:
“To our knowledge, this is the largest survey of HAF provision
ever undertaken in the UK, meaning the government and others can
have real confidence in the data we have gathered.
“With responses from 20,000 parents and carers from across 50
English local authorities, our survey comprehensively shows how
HAF supports child development and helps ease the cost-of-living
pressures. This rich detail will help to inform HAF's development
in the short, medium and longer term.
“I am delighted that the UK Government has confirmed HAF will be
funded for a further three years. Local authorities and
organisations can now plan effectively and fully integrate HAF
into wider policies, programmes and activities, bringing real
benefits to families and young people across the country.”
