What is HAF?
The Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) Programme is a Department for Education (DfE) funded programme of activities for children and young people from Reception to Year 11, during the school holidays (Winter, Easter, and Summer). The programme offers a range of activities in Harrow, including some specialist SEND provisions. Places are free for children who meet the criteria, and a free nutritious meal is provided at each programme.
FAQs
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How to send a booking request?
There are multiple organisations in Harrow that receive funding to run HAF activities which are advertised on our website. Please note that Young Harrow Foundation does not provide activities or manage booking requests directly.
When you find an activity that you like, fill out the online questionnaire with your details and the details of the child/young person. This will be sent directly to the organisation running that HAF programme. They will be in touch to ask for more information and/or to confirm your place. You will find contact details for the organisation on our website if you wish to follow up with a call or email.
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Who is the programme for?
To qualify for a free place in the Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) Programme, you have to meet the following criteria:
- The child / young person must be of school age – from Reception up to Year 11
- The child/young person must be living and/or attending school in Harrow
- The child must be in receipt of benefits tested Free School Meals*
*This programme is primarily aimed at those eligible for Free School Meals (FSM) benefits related - but not exclusively as we aim to include any child experiencing economic and social disadvantage.
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What’s the Holiday, Activities and Food (HAF) programme?
The Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) Programme is a Department for Education (DfE) funded programme of activities for children and young people aged 5-16 years, during the school holidays (Winter, Easter, and Summer). The programme offers a range of activities in Harrow, including some specialist SEND provisions. Places are free for children who meet the criteria, and a free nutritious meal is provided at each programme. Read the evaluation report.
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Where do I check if I'm eligible for Free School Meals, benefits related?
Check if your child can get free school meals in England and find out how to apply on your local authority’s website.
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Who manage my booking(s)?
We give funding to several organisations each school holiday for them to become a HAF provider. We publish their HAF activities on our website to centralise all the activities available and to make it easy for people to see what's available to book in Harrow but we don't run the activities ourselves, and therefore we don't manage the bookings or make decisions about the spaces available, the HAF provider does.
If you have a question about a specific activity we recommend you contact the organisation directly.
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How to cancel my bookings?
You need to log in to your account where you can find an option to cancel the booking yourself under "Your HAF bookings" in the navigation menu.
You can contact the HAF organiser directly. You can find a list of the organisations on our website with their contact details on their profile.
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What happens if my child/children don't go to the activity?
If possible, please contact the HAF organiser if your child/children can't attend the HAF activities and note that the HAF organiser has a right to cancel your entire booking if your child/children don't go to the HAF activities in the first few days.
You can find a list of the organisations on our website with their contact details on their profile.
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How to make a complaint?
Please note that Young Harrow Foundation is not responsible for the activities provided by the HAF organiser. Please contact the HAF organiser directly if you want to make a complaint.
Log in to your account to find the name of the organisation. You can find a list of the organisations on our website with their contact details on their profile.
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What to do when I don’t get a response from the HAF organiser?
When you book a HAF activity through our website, the HAF organiser receives an email with your request. Please contact them directly if you don’t hear from them in 5 working days.
Log in to your account to find the name of the organisation. You can find a list of the organisations on our website with their contact details on their profile.
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When can I book HAF activities?
There are multiple organisations in Harrow that receive funding to run their own HAF programme during the winter, Easter and summer holidays. We publish their programmes on our website a few weeks before the programme starts (mid-March, beginning of July and beginning of Dec approx.)
If you would like to be alerted to when HAF camps in Harrow are live and available to book on the website, please sign up here.
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Can I book a place even though I'm not eligible for Free School Meals?
This programme is primarily aimed at those eligible for Free School Meals (FSM) benefits related - but not exclusively as we aim to include any child experiencing economic and social disadvantage.
If your child/children don’t qualify for FSM but you want to enquire about the possibility of booking a place, please contact the HAF organiser directly. You can find a list of the organisations on our website with their contact details on their profile.
Please note that this is a free provision for children and young people from Reception to Year 11, living and/or going to school in Harrow.
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Can my child attend more than one HAF organiser per school holidays?
No. You need to choose one HAF organiser per school holiday and it can be different each time. Please note that this excludes Harrow Winter in Wonderland.
Your child/children can attend the activities organised by your chosen HAF organiser and go to Harrow Winter in Wonderland.
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Can I change the activities if I don’t like them?
Yes. Log in to your account to cancel the existing booking request and then proceed to send another booking request to another organisation.
Please note that it might be difficult during the Winter and Easter school holidays due to the limited number of days of activity sessions our HAF organisers can offer.
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Can my booking request be declined?
Yes. HAF organisers can decline a booking request for various reasons. They will contact you if they need further information but usually, they can decline a booking request if the activity is fully booked, accommodate your needs, etc. Contact the organisation directly if you have any questions.
Log in to your account to find the name of the organisation and all the details from your booking request.
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What happens if my child has a dietary requirement/allergy?
Our HAF organisers can accommodate your requirements. Please let them know when you submit your booking request and/or in other communications.
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Can my child bring a packed lunch?
Yes, your child/children and bring their packed lunch but please let the HAF organiser know. Even though your child/children bring their packed lunch they are still entitled to a free healthy meal a day during the HAF activities.
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How HAF providers cater for children with SEND?
We fund a number of SEND specialist organisations to run programmes for children with moderate to severe needs and disabilities. Many of the providers also have experience and training to support children with low-level SEND. We recommend getting in touch with the HAF provider directly to discuss your child’s individual needs. You can find a list of the organisations on our website with their contact details on their profile.
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If you are a professional, how can you make a referral for a child?
If you are a professional that works with vulnerable children and wants to book a HAF activity on their behalf or you have any questions about the programme, please contact our HAF Manager, Cristina Garcia
Support in Harrow
HELP Harrow
This is a new way of connecting vulnerable residents to vital local services throughout the current pandemic and beyond. Help Harrow offers support for food, and advice, as well as mental health and emotional well-being services for children, young people, and adults.
Children starting school
Support and resources for families with a child making the next step to start school.
Mental health services
There is a new mental health partnership now available in Harrow, with free mental health services and resources for young people aged 5-25. These services are community-based services open for referrals from parents, schools, GPs, and other professionals working with young people.
Free resources for HAF providers
Funders and corporate sponsors of the HAF programme in 2023