Children's services
Holiday programme which supports thousands of families open for summer bookings
Published on
Bookings have gone live for Walsall Council’s successful Holiday Activity and Food (HAF) programme running this summer.
*Eligible families can see what’s on and book fun activities for children and young people via the Walsall Council booking portal: https://haf.walsall.gov.uk/Account/Login
The HAF programme brings together a four-week programme of holiday fun for children and young people aged 5-16 during the summer holidays, plus some additional sessions for the whole family to enjoy. To bring the programme to life, the council works in partnership with over 75 local providers to host activities where children can have fun, meet new people, and develop new hobbies and skills.
The programme will run for four weeks over the school holidays, starting on Monday 3 August and finishing on Friday 28 August 2026.
“ Our successful HAF programme has supported thousands of local families over the past few years, and I’m delighted that this summer’s fun is just around the corner.
“We know how much of a lifeline the programme is for families during the six‑week holiday, and we’re proud to offer activities where children can not only enjoy fantastic experiences, but also receive a healthy lunch at each activity, which takes that extra bit of pressure off our families.
“HAF wouldn’t be complete without the work of our wonderful providers, who work tirelessly to deliver a brilliant, inclusive programme of activities for young people. Here’s to another great summer of HAF. “
Since launching in 2021, feedback from those involved in the programme has demonstrated the positive impact HAF has upon families’ lives. After taking part in the programme:
87% of children felt more active
81% of children felt they learnt something new
50% felt they ate food which was good for them
The programme is a support for parents and carers too. 64% of parents surveyed said that they felt HAF had a positive impact on their family life, 52% felt it got their children outside, and 47% felt inspired to eat healthier at home.
For more information about the HAF programme please visit the council’s website:
https://go.walsall.gov.uk/children-and-young-people/holiday-activities-programme-haf
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Notes to editor
Walsall Council was awarded £1.7m from Department for Education (DFE) funding to deliver the Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) programme in 2025.
*The programme is aimed at children and young people ages 5 to 16 years, eligible for free school meals to offer healthy food and enriching activities four weeks over the summer break.
