Hounslow Council is delighted to announce the three-year extension of the Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) Programme, which supports children and families across the borough during school holidays.
As part of its Best Start in Life mission, the Government has confirmed over £600 million in funding for the HAF programme over the next three financial years (from 2026/27), equating to just over £200 million per year.
Councillor Samia Chaudhary, Cabinet Member for Education, Children, Skills and Employment at Hounslow Council, said:
We are thrilled by the Government’s commitment to continued funding for the HAF programme. This multi-year settlement will allow us to plan more strategically, strengthen local partnerships, and deliver even greater support for families in Hounslow. We’ve seen first-hand how impactful these programmes are in improving outcomes for children and young people.
This allows us to continue our work alongside dedicated local providers, staff and community partners to deliver high-quality, inclusive and engaging activities for children across the borough.
The HAF programme provides children and young people with access to enriching activities and nutritious meals during school holidays, supporting their health, wellbeing, and learning readiness. The programme also offers vital support to parents and carers during the holiday period.
Over 2,800 individual children accessed activities over the summer of 2025 (25% had additional needs) - 99% of parents said HAF had a positive impact on their child's physical activity while 98% said that HAF has had a positive impact on their child's wellbeing this summer.
Over 90% of children said they made new friends at their HAF camp.
One parent commented: “It’s amazing and so beneficial for my children. They are safe, happy, well looked after and get to take part in amazing activities and have new experiences that they otherwise wouldn’t be able to have access to.’
For further information, please visit Holiday activities and food programme | London Borough of Hounslow
