We are delighted to be delivering in the London Borough of Ealing the Holiday Activity and Food (HAF) programme which is being funded by the Department for Education. Funds have been made available to provide funded holiday provision, including nutritious food and enriching activities, for children and young people in receipt of benefits-related free school meals (FSM).
Throughout the borough, HAF providers will be offering a range of free activities as well as a healthy meal. Children and young people can attend for 4 hours per day, 4 days per week, with any number of HAF providers during the Easter, Summer and Christmas School Holidays.
If you have any further enquiries or need support, please email the HAF team at HAF@ealing.gov.uk or call 020 8825 6331 (9am-1pm).
Please check our FAQ for Professionals below. We have also produced an informational leaflet for Professionals under 'Useful Reading'.
Our FAQ for families is also available here: Holiday Activity and Food (HAF) Programme Overview | Ealing Directory (ealingfamiliesdirectory.org.uk).
Who can take part in the HAF programme?
This programme is aimed at children & young people in school years from reception to Y11 who are in receipt of benefits-related free school meals and either live in the London Borough of Ealing or attend school in the London Borough of Ealing.
If a family are not currently in receipt of benefits-related free school meals, but you think they may be eligible, you can visit Free School Meals | Ealing Directory (ealingfamiliesdirectory.org.uk) to find out more and apply.
If a child or young person does not meet the above eligibility criteria, but you feel that they would benefit from attending HAF provision/activities, professionals working with families can request a referal to attend. To do so, please have the professional contact us: HAF@ealing.gov.uk.
What do professionals need to do?
Ask the families you work with if their children or young people are in receipt of benefits-related free school meals. If they are, tell them about the HAF programme and encourage them to book into one or more of the HAF providers.
Instructions on how to book are available in our FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions).
What if I have children and young people who would benefit from attending a HAF provision but are not in receipt of benefits-related free school meals?
We are able to offer a small number of places to some children and young people who would benefit from attending HAF provision but do not meet the eligibility criteria.
Our first priority is to ensure the FSM children and young people have access to HAF provision.
Please email HAF@ealing.gov.uk to request a referral form.
Please Note: Referrals are only open during our active HAF periods, and are emailed to all professionals working with families in Ealing in the weeks before each HAF programme.
I am unsure what qualifies for a referral?
This list is not exhaustive, but the below are circumstances which may qualify for a HAF referral:
- At risk of food poverty over the school holidays
- Child Protection Plan
- Children in Need Plan
- SAFE Assessment and Plan
- Early Help Assessment and Plan
- Looked After Child
- Fostering or Adoption
- Special Guardianship
- Education Health and Care Plan
- Young Carer
- Youth Offending
- Unaccompanied Minor
- Children with Disabilities Team
- No Recourse to Public Funds
- Ukrainian Refugee
- Family in Crisis
I have already referred a family for a previous HAF programme - do I need to refer them again?
Yes. Referrals are only valid for each separate HAF programme, and requests are looked at on a case-by-case basis.
Can I become a HAF Provider?
The Ealing HAF programme onboards providers annually at the start of the year. A second round may be opened before the summer holiday if additional provision is needed to meet demand.
If you are interested in your organisation becoming a HAF Provider, please email HAF@ealing.gov.uk.
