Funding available to support children and young people across Cheshire West and Wirral

Applications are now open for the 2024 Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) programme in Cheshire West and Wirral.

The HAF programme, which is funded by Department for Education, supports children, young people and their families in receipt of free school meals during the Easter, summer and Christmas school holidays.

Edsential, who coordinate the HAF programme on behalf of Cheshire West and Chester Council and Wirral Council, have now opened applications for 2024. If you are a community group, family group, faith group, school, sports club or a uniformed organisation, you can apply for funding to be part of the fun! The HAF programme is designed to provide children and young people with nutritious meals and take part in a range of different activities during the holidays.

The HAF pilot scheme first took place in 2018. Edsential were at the forefront of this, before it was then rolled out across the country to all local authorities in 2021. Thanks to the Department for Education’s funding, Edsential, Cheshire West and Chester Council and Wirral Council have provided 358 organisations with vital funding since 2021.

Cheshire Young Carers have ran a club since 2019. Activity Respite Manager, Claire Worth, said:

“I would recommend organisations to run a HAF club. With funding from the HAF programme we have been able to offer activities at multiple venues and for different age groups – reducing isolation, improving overall wellbeing and contributing to improved child outcomes for young carers. Participation has led to friendships being developed, young carers being happy and building confidence whilst having new enjoyable experiences.”

To apply for the Easter, summer or Christmas provision and to find out more about the Department for Education’s minimum standards, please visit: www.edsential.com/HAF