About the Holiday Activities and Food Programme
The Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) Programme offers fully funded holiday places to eligible children and young people in Peterborough.
HAF runs during the Easter (up to 4 sessions), Summer (up to 16 sessions) and Christmas (up to 4 sessions) school holidays.
The Department for Education funds the HAF Programme. It encourages children and young people to:
- Eat healthily over the school holidays
- Be active during the school holidays
- Take part in engaging and enriching activities
- Have a greater knowledge of health and nutrition
- Be more engaged with local opportunities
Each child or young person will receive a balanced meal each day that they attend.
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Eligibility for the Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) programme
The Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) programme is available to children and young people in Reception to Year 11 who are eligible for targeted free school meals.
Please note: children and young people who are receiving the new expanded free school meals or Universal Infant free school meals do not qualify for HAF.
Additionally, children and young people must live in Peterborough or attend a Peterborough school.
If you live in Peterborough but your child is attending a school out of the area, you will be asked for additional proof of eligibility such as a council tax statement or your latest Universal Credit Statement.
Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) places for vulnerable children and young people
We are aware that there are some vulnerable children and young people who would benefit from attending Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) who are not eligible.
We have a small number of places for children and young people who meet one of the following criteria:
- Child/young person is in care
- Child/young person is on a Child Protection Plan
- Child/young person is on a Special Guardianship Order (SGO)
For all the criteria above, the child must live in Peterborough or attend a Peterborough school.
A professional working with the child or young person can explain why the HAF place would be beneficial by completing a referral form and submitting it to the HAF team. For children in care the referral can only be made by a social worker or the virtual school. For child protection the referral must be made by the child's social worker. For SGO, the child's school or social care can refer.
To request a professionals referral form or for further information on the criteria, please contact haf@peterborough.gov.uk.
How to book a place on the Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) programme
The next Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) Programme will be for the Christmas 2026 holidays.
Bookings will open at 9am on Tuesday 24 November 2026. Once bookings are open, follow the steps below:
- View the list of HAF providers on the HAF Peterborough website
- Select your preferred provider club or activity
- Click on the 'book' button on that provider's page to book a place directly with them
- Each eligible child can book a maximum of 4 sessions
- Please note booking is subject to eligibility and confirmation
Please contact the HAF Team for more information by email haf@peterborough.gov.uk.
Future funding
As part of its Best Start in Life mission, the Government has announced that funding has been confirmed for the Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) Programme for the next three financial years (from 2026/27)
Annual report
Privacy notice
You can view the privacy notice for the Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) Programme on our Corporate Privacy Notice webpage.