Agenda item

Briefing Note of the Director of Children and Education.

The Board considered a briefing note of the Director of Children’s and Education Services that provided an update on the Coventry Holiday Activities and Food (HAF).

Officers outlined how the HAF programme was a national initiative, aimed at addressing holiday inequalities through a blend of free positive activities and experiences coupled with healthy food and support to families.

Officers further listed the national aims of the programme which were to ensure a high-quality experience that would result in children:

• Receiving healthy and nutritious meals
• Maintaining a healthy level of physical activity
• Being happy, having fun and meeting new friends
• Developing a greater understanding of food, nutrition and other health related issues
• Taking part in fun and engaging activities that support their development and well-being
• Feeling safe and secure
• Getting access to the right support services
• Returning to school feeling engaged and ready to learn

The national roll-out of HAF took place in 2021, with the first Coventry face-to-face delivery taking place in the 2021 summer holiday. In January 2025, the programme was extended for a further year for 2025. On 28 August 2025, the government announced a 3-year funding settlement of over £200 million each year for the national HAF programme (i.e. through to March 2029). This funding forms part of the Children, Youth and Families Grant within the local government finance settlement.

It was outlined how the 2025 school summer holiday programme was the most successful HAF holiday programme that Coventry had of yet delivered. Highlights included:

• 4,491 eligible children and young people benefitted (up from 4,141 for summer 2024);
• This included 1,637 eligible children with SEND plus other family members;
• Over 22,000 sessions were delivered and meals provided;
• Over 100 different activities/clubs were delivered; 43 providers were directly funded (see Appendix 1) with several other providers/partner organisations being sub-funded by these providers; and
• Families gave a 4.4/5-star feedback rating on the activities.

In considering the report, the Board questioned officers, received responses, and discussed matters as summarised below:

• That 36% of children accessing the programme had additional needs.
• Efforts were being made to extend the appeal to older children who considered the programme too juvenile for them, and this included inviting former HAF children for their input.
• There were existing efforts to expand the programme, but this needed to be costed and within budget.
• The programme was being targeted at deprived areas with higher crime and sometimes working with partners not using the HAF branding to avoid stigma.
• Officers were broadly unable to accept donations from charities for this public programme, but efforts were being made to work with external partners to access additional funding and expansion opportunities

Members requested that the video shown in the meeting as part of officer’s presentation be circulated to the board.

The Board made note of their appreciation for the scheme and its success, thanking the officers involved for their good work.

RESOLVED that the Education and Children’s Services Scrutiny Board (2):

1)  Considered and noted the information provided on the HAF programme.

2)  Recommend that the Cabinet Member for Children and Young People seek to expand the service where possible and seek further funding to enable this to happen.