Hampshire County Council's new £3.6m fund to offer free holiday activities for low-income families

Hampshire County Council has approved more than £3.6m in funding so thousands of children can enjoy activities during the shool holidays.

School children and young people from low-income households will continue to have access to activities, clubs and nutritious meals as the council invests millions into the Holiday Activities and Food Programme (HAF) for the next financial year.

Councillor Roz Chadd, the county council’s executive lead member for children’s services, approved £3,620,130 funding for 2027 to 2028, helping eligible children and young people stay active, eat well and enjoy a change of scene during the Easter, summer, winter and February half term school holidays.

The sessions, which vary by provider, all offer a mixture of sports, arts and outdoor activities alongside a hot, balanced meal.

Councillor Chadd said: “The school holidays should give children the chance to enjoy new experiences, stay active and spend time with others. By continuing this government-funded programme, we can provide nutritious food and enriching activities for eligible children, while offering valuable support to families and communities across Hampshire.”

Following revised rules introduced earlier this year, the programme is available to children eligible for “targeted free school meals”, which is a new category that applies to families in receipt of free school meals and whose household income is less than £7,400 per year.

Funding for each delivery period will be divided proportionately between Hampshire’s district areas, based on the number of eligible children in each area. This will help ensure that funding is directed to communities according to levels of need.

The programme will continue to support other eligible children and young people across Hampshire, including those with special educational needs or disabilities and those living in rural areas.

For more information about eligibilty, click here.