Children's services
“A massive help”: More than 9,000 children take part in Walsall HAF programme as families praise support over summer
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More than 9,000 children registered for Walsall’s Holiday Activities and Food programme (HAF) this summer, with families praising the range of activities on offer and the support the programme provides for children, parents and carers.
Walsall Council’s Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) programme brought together four weeks of free holiday activities for children and young people aged five to 16 during the summer holidays.
Working with 71 local providers, the programme gave children and young people opportunities to have fun, meet new people, try something different and develop new hobbies and skills, while receiving a healthy lunch at each activity.
This summer, 9,391 children registered for the programme, with more than 10,000 activities booked across the four-week programme.
Families taking part have praised the support available through HAF and the difference it can make during the school holidays.
One parent described HAF as a lifeline during the summer holidays, commenting:
“HAF gives me a break from the cost of entertaining three kids over the holidays. It adds structure to our summer.
“It enables me to have some one-on-one time with each child, which is rare and very valued and very occasionally it gives me a couple of hours on my own, which is a miracle most of the time. This, as little as it seems, helps my mental health and wellbeing over the summer.
“The kids love the activities and always have great experiences from them. They get the kids off their screens and active - and it’s brilliant. We are so aware of how lucky they are and are very grateful.”
Other parents also highlighted the support HAF provides for families with different circumstances.
One parent said:
“Due to my chronic health, it’s difficult to take children out, so this programme has been a massive help where I can relax and rest while knowing they are having fun. Truly grateful.”
Another parent commented:
“The HAF programme is a massive help during the summer holiday. The programme ensures my child has a safe place to attend during work hours.”
Feedback from children and families also highlighted the positive impact of taking part, with children gaining independence, getting outside and trying something different, building confidence and self-esteem, and making new friends and meeting new people.
Local HAF providers have also seen the difference the programme can make for children. HAF activity provider ‘Sports Cool’ shared the story of one child who attended one of its summer holiday clubs, initially hesitant about joining in. Over the summer, he grew in confidence, made friends and discovered new activities.
They commented:
“One of our favourite moments came at the end of the summer. The boy who had been unsure about coming on his first day was now asking why the club had to finish! For him, the holiday club became much more than somewhere to spend the school holidays. It gave him a chance to socialise, make friends, try new things, develop confidence and simply have fun.
“His experience is a wonderful example of why accessible holiday provision matters. Sometimes, providing the opportunity to step outside of familiar surroundings and be part of a welcoming community can make a huge difference to a child.”
“ It’s wonderful to hear how much HAF has meant to children and families across Walsall this summer. We know the holidays can bring extra pressure for families, and having something positive, fun and welcoming for children to look forward to can make a huge difference.
What really stands out to me is the feedback from families. Hearing that children have made new friends, grown in confidence and tried things they might not otherwise have had the chance to do is a truly fantastic mark of the programme’s impact.
There’s so much work that goes on behind the scenes to make HAF happen, so I want to thank all of our providers and partners for putting together such a brilliant programme and giving children the chance to enjoy themselves. Their hard work has helped give thousands of children a summer to remember. “
A wide range of activities were available for children and young people through the programme, including outdoor exploring, allotment activities, potion making, magic, puppet and dinosaur shows, animal experiences, dance and performing arts workshops and Ninja Warrior activities.
SEND-tailored sensory sessions were also available, helping children and young people access activities suited to their individual needs.
HAF supports Walsall’s wider 2040 vision to be a child-friendly borough and give all children and young people the best possible start in life. It aims to help children and young people eat healthily, stay active, develop new skills and remain safe and socially connected during the school holidays, while supporting their wider development and educational attainment.
This also supports the ambitions of Feeding Walsall's Future: The Food Plan (2025-2030) by providing healthy meals during holiday activities and helping children and young people build their knowledge of nutrition and healthier lifestyles.
The programme ran for four weeks from Monday 3 August to Friday 28 August 2026. HAF will return during the 2026 Christmas holidays, offering free activities and healthy food to eligible children and young people aged 5 to 16.
For more information about Walsall’s Holiday Activities and Food programme, visit: https://go.walsall.gov.uk/children-and-young-people/holiday-activities-programme-haf
To learn more about the wide range of support available through Walsall’s Best Start Family Hubs, visit: https://family-hubs.walsall.gov.uk/
