Free Summer Activities and Meals Return to Harrow: HAF 2025 Builds on Record Year of Impact

Running from Wednesday 23rd July to Friday 29 August 2025, the programme is open to children from Reception to Year 11 who live or study in Harrow and receive means-tested Free School Meals. Thanks to additional support from the DVS Foundation, some spaces will also be available to children facing other financial or social barriers, referred through schools or local partners.

Activities range from sports, theatre, dance and music to cooking, comedy, forest school and creative tech, with both mainstream inclusive options and SEND-specific provision available.

All activities are free to book now at:
youngharrowfoundation.org/haf-programme

Building on a Year of Growth and Resilience

In 2024, Harrow’s HAF programme supported nearly 6,000 children and young people, delivering over 115,000 hours of activity through 80 funded grants and serving thousands of hot meals. Summer alone saw a 94% increase in participation from the year before, with 1,951 children and young people engaged across more than 16,000 individual sessions.

An average participant spent nearly 54 hours in HAF programming, with most attending for more than a week, demonstrating not just access, but sustained engagement.

Beyond the numbers, the programme proved to be a vital pillar of community support in the face of rising food insecurity, safety concerns, and the ongoing cost-of-living crisis. HAF provided structure and security during a tense summer marked by unrest across London, giving young people safe spaces to learn, play and grow.

What’s New for Summer 2025?

• More programme locations across Harrow to improve accessibility

• Strengthened SEND provision, including family-inclusive events

• New food education content, budget recipes, and wellbeing signposting for parents

• A simplified referral process for schools and trusted local services

Young Harrow Foundation’s most recent data shows a sharp rise in demand, with web visits to HAF programme listings increasing by 58% in 2024, from 12,675 to over 20,000. Families are actively seeking support, structure and safe environments for their children during the holidays.

In response, HAF providers have worked to deliver not just activities, but continuity, connecting families to services year-round and advocating for those who may fall outside traditional eligibility.

Safeguarding and Sustainability

With support from local partners, Harrow’s HAF providers responded swiftly to community concerns in 2024, strengthening safeguarding protocols and ensuring programmes remained trusted and inclusive spaces. This year, the programme will continue to prioritise safety, wellbeing and meaningful inclusion for all participants.

As one parent shared after last summer’s programme:
“HAF gave my child a sense of belonging and routine during a really uncertain time. It made the holidays something to look forward to, not fear.”

To book a space, make a referral or learn more about the HAF Summer 2025 programme, visit:
youngharrowfoundation.org/haf-programme