Winter Holiday Fun in Shropshire with HAF (Holiday Activities & Food) – Bookings Open!

Bookings are now open for the winter Shropshire HAF (Holiday Activities & Food) programme.

Winter Shropshire HAF (Holiday Activities & Food) has opened

Shropshire Council is working in partnership with local schools, voluntary and community organisations, and childcare providers to run exciting holiday clubs over the holidays.

There are free places available on the HAF programme for children and young people aged 4 (reception class age) to 16, who are eligible for benefits-related free school meals. Additionally, a limited number of free places are available for children and young people living in areas of high deprivation and/or from low-income households, who are not in receipt of benefits-related free school meals. These children and young people can be referred onto the programme by a professional.

From 20 December 2025 to 5 January 2026, eligible children and young people are invited to take part in a range of fun, free activities happening at holiday clubs across the county.

There is something on offer for everyone, including sports, arts, cooking, forest schools, and other exciting opportunities. Free nutritious meals will be provided at each session, along with information to benefit the whole family.

A parent who has benefitted from HAF in the past said:

I wouldn’t have been able to afford anything like this for the kids and they do all thoroughly love it! It’s such a valuable programme, all the families I know who’ve benefited from HAF are so grateful for such an opportunity for our children to socialise and thrive in the holidays, when we can’t afford holidays let alone food at times.

Cllr Andy Hall, portfolio holder for children and education, said:

Through funding from the Department for Education, we are delighted to offer a HAF programme again this winter, there is a huge range of activities happening, with free meals provided at each session.

HAF provides a fantastic opportunity for eligible children and young people to engage in exciting activities during the three main school holidays. The programme allows participants to socialise, learn new skills, eat delicious food, take part in physical activity, and have fun in their local community.

Clubs are run in local venues, such as schools and youth clubs. This provides children and young people the opportunity to build relationships with trusted adults and access safe spaces during the holidays.

I’d like to encourage all eligible families to book onto HAF activities this winter.

The winter What’s On Guide and details of how to book are available online.

Some of the holiday programmes also include paid spaces for children and young people who are not in receipt of free school meals.

For more information on HAF in Shropshire, visit the official website.

Please contact the HAF Programme Co-Ordinators – email: haf.programme@shropshire.gov.uk