Last updated 19 January 2023
Children across Stockport enjoyed a winter break full of fun activities and nutritious food, thanks to the Holiday Activity and Food (HAF) programme.
Heaton Norris Community Center was just one of the HAF providers offering fun and food for children this Christmas.
Children across Stockport enjoyed a winter break full of fun activities and nutritious food, thanks to the Holiday Activity and Food (HAF) programme. Funded by the Department for Education (DfE), the HAF program offers families in receipt of income-based free school meals the chance to access free childcare places.
Providers across the borough stepped up to offer the free, fully-funded places to children this winter, as part of Stockport Council’s drive to keep everyone in Stockport warm and well. The cost of living crisis continues to impact on families across the nation, so programs like the HAF scheme offer much-needed support to those parents who might struggle to make ends meet during the school holidays, as food and childcare costs typically rise.
The council has mobilized a package of cost of living support for residents, including a cost of living hub to signpost people to all of the support available in one handy place. As part of this, the HAF program has been extended and included the October half term, and will include February half term as well as the usual provision over Christmas, Easter and summer holidays. This has been funded through the Household Support Grant.
Councilor Wendy Meikle, Cabinet Member for Children, Families and Education at Stockport Council, said: “I’m really proud of how our community have pulled together to offer HAF provision for children across the borough. It’s another great example of the spirit of Stockport, and I want to thank all of our wonderful providers for a fantastic Christmas period. We know that the cost of living is impacting all of our residents, so schemes like the HAF program can provide a real lifeline by ensuring children have a safe place to go where they are going to be looked after and given nutritious food, without having parents to worry about cost.”
For more information, visit the Stockport Council website. If you would like to sign up as a provider for the next HAF period, or can help out by offering a space to host activities in or provide a fun, child-friendly activity, please email haf@stockport.gov.uk.
