Introduction
Welcome to the Free Fun and Food programme also called the Holiday Activities and Food programme (HAF).
This programme supports the wellbeing of children between 5 to 16 years by providing a variety of free activities and food during school holidays. We offer activities and food to children who receive benefit-related free school meals during the spring (Easter), summer, autumn (October) and winter (Christmas) holidays across the city.
The programme is fully funded by the Department for Education (DfE). It offers lots of fun ideas for keeping active, being creative and trying something new over the school holidays. Each day will include a healthy meal, snacks and a selection of activities, ranging from sports, enriching and physical activities, food workshops and much more.
Children and young people who get benefit-related free school meals, can get up to 4 days of free fun and nutritious food during the spring, summer and winter holidays, and up to 12 days during the summer holidays.
All eligible children and young people will be able to access up to 24 days holiday activity each year.
- 4 days of face-to-face activity in spring (Easter)
- 12 days of face-to-face activity in summer
- 4 days of face-to-face activity in autumn (October half term)
- 4 days of face-to-face activity in winter (Christmas)
Programmes are a minimum of 4 hours of activity and include a meal for each day of the programme. Attendance is voluntary, but places will need to be booked in advance.
The offer will differ between providers, but all programmes will offer a minimum of four hours provision with a meal (2.5 hours for secondary age programmes) and will include; physical activity, enrichment, food/nutrition education and a meal to replace the free school meal.
More information on the individual clubs can be found here.
If you wish to contact clubs to find out more information about its individual provision you will find contact details for each of the club by clicking on their details
How to claim your voucher
To book a place for your child at an activity, you will need to be in receipt of a HAF voucher. Nottingham City schools will issue these vouchers to eligible families who get benefits-related free school meals.
Once vouchers have been issued, you will receive a text or email (or both), from hello@holidayactivities.com to say you have been issued a voucher - check your junk/spam folder.
The next round of vouchers will be issued on 17th March 2025.
See more information on how to claim your HAF voucher.
If you do not receive a HAF voucher for your child and they are in receipt of benefits-related free school meals, contact your child's school.
If you have not received your HAF voucher and your child's school is closed due to the school holidays, email freefunandfood@nottinghamcity.gov.uk
How to book
Once you have claimed your child’s voucher, you will be able to access the Holiday Activities booking site to view all available and suitable activities for your child’s age.
Each child will have credits on their vouchers which are used to book activities. The number of credits given depends on the holiday period. For example, for the spring, autumn and winter programmes, there will be 4 credits available, and for the summer programme, there will be 12 credits available.
See more information on how to book an activity.
Parent and carer guides
If you're a parent or carer and are struggling with the Holiday Activities booking site, you can visit Holiday Activities – parent guides for help with things such as, managing bookings and linking multiple vouchers to one account.
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