Wandsworth - Holiday Activity and Food (HAF) Programme - Information for potential providers

What is the Holiday Activity and Food Programme

The Holiday Activity and Food (HAF) programme is funded by the Department for Education (DfE) to enable the provision of activities and food for children over the Easter, Summer and Winter school holidays, with a focus on those in receipt of benefit related free school meals.

Research has shown that the school holidays can be pressure points for some families. For some children this can lead to a holiday experience gap, with children from low-income households being:

• less likely to access organised out-of-school activities
• more likely to experience ‘unhealthy holidays’ in terms of nutrition and physical health
• more likely to experience social isolation

The HAF programme is a response to this issue, with evidence showing that free holiday clubs can have a positive impact on children and young people, and that they work best when they:

• provide consistent and easily accessible enrichment activities
• cover more than just breakfast or lunch
• involve children (and parents) in food preparation
• use local partnerships and connections, particularly with the voluntary and community Service sector

As a result of this programme, we want children who attend this provision to be:

• receiving healthy and nutritious meals
• maintaining a healthy level of physical activity
• being happy, having fun and meeting new friends
• developing a greater understanding of food, nutrition and other health-related issues
• taking part in fun and engaging activities that support their development
• feeling safe and secure
• getting access to the right support services
• returning to school feeling engaged and ready to learn

We also want to ensure that the families who participate in this programme:

• develop their understanding of nutrition and food budgeting
• are signposted towards other information and support, for example, health, employment, and education

The Wandsworth Approach

In Wandsworth we are ambitious in what we want to deliver for our children, young people and families.

We have listened to our communities, worked together with children, parents, carers, schools and community providers and they have told us that they need and want activities to take place in spaces that are familiar, local to them and in which they feel comfortable and allow them to build relationships and feel part of a community.  We also want to be responsive in what we offer and provide diversity of opportunity to all.

With this in mind we would like to develop both a Core Offer of provision and a range of Special Projects.

For the Core Offer we are looking to offer consistency to our children, young people and families from Services who will be able to develop and encourage positive relationships with our children, young people and families.  We would like to fund both local providers and dedicated providers delivering from familiar community venues (such as schools) to provide good quality, dependable activities which offer the opportunity for children and young people to make connections, be engaged and most importantly have fun. 

The Special Projects offer will run in conjunction with the Core Offer and provide a range of opportunities that respond to a specific need (i.e. Mental Health Support, Knife Crime Reduction etc) or provide opportunity to participate in something out of the ordinary (i.e. Diving camp).  

How to Apply for Funding

You can apply by reading the “Wandsworth Guidance and Criteria – HAF 2025-26” and “Wandsworth Example bid form with notes – HAF Summer 2026” then completing the “Wandsworth HAF Bid Summer 2026”.  All documents can be found in the downloads section on this page.  You must then send the completed form to [javascript protected email address] by the deadline below.

When are the bid submission deadlines

All bids must be received in the [javascript protected email address] email inbox by Midnight, Sunday 3rd May 2026. Please expect our response that your bid has been received. 

You will be notified of the outcome of your bid by 5th June 2026 along with the payment schedule and next steps (if successful).

Further Support

All necessary information is available in the “Wandsworth Guidance and Criteria – HAF 2025-26” and “Example bid form with notes – HAF Summer 2026” in the Downloads section. An example cost breakdown spreadsheet (Excel format) is also provided. However, if after reading this you would like any further information about Wandsworth HAF or to talk through your application with a member of the team, please email [javascript protected email address]