Holiday Activities & Food (HAF)

The HAF programme is a government funded scheme that operates during specific school holidays during the year. Its aim is to provide support to children and families who are in receipt of free school meals. Evidence from the government trial in summer 2021 shows that free holiday clubs can have a positive impact on children and young people.

HAF is for school aged children from aged 7 to 16 years old

At YMCA Sutton Coldfield we have 3 HAF groups:

• Just Kidz Fun (for children aged 7-11 years)
• Just Youth (for young people aged 12-16 years)
• Short Breaks (for SEND children aged 8-16 years)

To attend, children and young people need to meet one of the HAF criteria:

• Receive free school meals
• Be a Young Carer (if you attend Release or Upbeat Teens)
• Have an Education, Health & Care Plan (EHCP)
• Be a child the local authority believes could benefit from HAF provision

Arts & Crafts

Learning New Skills

Cooking & Baking

Competitions & Challenges

Sports & Games

Seasonal Activities

Our HAF sessions are on certain days of the school holiday. Please check this website for dates and details, including how to book onto a session. The sessions are usually 4 hours long, although Just Youth sometimes runs for 4 – 6 hours. During the session, children receive a hot lunch, 60 minutes sport or physical exercise and enjoyable, enrichment activities. Children have the chance to take part in cookery activities, learn key skills, how to stay healthy, and good nutrition. We encourage children to bring their own water bottle although drinks are always available. 

Our HAF programme for Summer 2023 has now finished

Keep checking our website and social media channels to see when we’re running again!

Just Kidz Fun for 8-11 year old children had so much fun at our HAF Easter 2023 sessions. They got involved in a fruit sundae workshop from Spark Active CIC, sports, games, singing, dancing, crafts and cooking activities making pizza baguettes, sausage rolls, cheese and onion rolls, Easter nests and much more!

Just Youth for 12-16 year old children did lots of different activities at our Easter 2023 HAF sessions. They cooked their own lunch (pizza baguettes, chicken bakes and steak bakes) and played handball, dodgeball, archery, darts and football. Just Youth also got creative by doing iPad art, social media templates and mini canvas art.

Short Breaks for 8-16 year old children with Special Educational Needs & Disabilities had lots of fun at their Easter 2023 sessions. They got involved in a music workshop, cooking activities, dancing, singing, art & crafts, and much more!