Children's services
More than 300 Walsall families attend Holiday Activity and Food taster day during half term
Published on
Over 300 families in Walsall attended a Holiday Activity and Food programme taster day on Friday 16 February 2024 to find out more about the programme and how to get involved.
The Holiday Activity and Food programme, also known as HAF, offers *eligible children and young people local activities to get involved with during the school holidays, and the council works with over 75 providers across the borough of Walsall to deliver the programme.
Hosted at Walsall’s Town Hall, the event was an opportunity for families to come along, find out more about the council programme, what types of activities it offers, and how to register and book their child or children onto activities.
Various providers who support the council deliver HAF were in attendance, and children had fun trying out things such as a silent disco, face painting and balloon modelling.
Rizwan Ahmed from Youth Connect attended the taster day and said, “Thank you for giving us the opportunity to come to the taster session, it was phenomenal.
“The afternoon gave us so many opportunities to speak to parents and reassure them that their children will have a great time with us on the HAF programme and that they will be safe.
“Our staff are really friendly they really enjoyed meeting the children today.”
A parent said, “Because I have been here today at the taster session, it has made me feel completely at ease and given me less anxiety about sending my child to the HAF programme.”
“ What a great afternoon in the Town Hall for families to come along to, and talk to all sorts of people and businesses who are delivering HAF during the school holidays.
From archery to crafting, there really was something for everyone to enjoy.
The HAF programme is such a fantastic scheme which helps families during the school holidays and provides children with a balanced meal at every session they attend. We really couldn’t do it without the support from our providers.
Bookings are now open for the Easter 2024 HAF programme, so make sure if you’re eligible, you book onto sessions running from Monday 25 March until Thursday 28 March 2024.
If you aren’t eligible but would still like to get involved in HAF activities, it is possible to pay for activities too. All the information on how to do this is available on the Walsall Council website. “
Registration and bookings can be made online, or in-person at one of our Walsall Connected hubs.
You can find your nearest hub on the Walsall Council website: Register for HAF 2024 | Walsall Council. Alternatively, you can call the HAF helpline on 01922 653899.
Ends
Notes to editors
- Walsall Council was awarded £1.8m from Department for Education (DFE) to deliver the Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) programme in 2024.
- *Eligible families - 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 one week over the Easter break.
- Walsall Right for Children (WR4C) facilitates the HAF programme and can be contacted by email at WR4C@walsall.gov.uk. Follow the team on Twitter and Facebook for updates.
