Holiday Activities and Food Alliance launches to support local authorities
Fiona Simpson
Friday, March 19, 2021
A new coalition of charities, academics and youth organisations has launched in a bid to support local authorities to make the best use of the government’s expanded £220m Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) programme.
The Holiday Activities and Food Alliance consists of 16 not-for-profit and community interest organisations with experience in working with children and young adults, community groups and the education sector to alleviate inactivity, food poverty and social inequalities.
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Groups involved in the alliance include Northumbria University, FareShare, the Food Foundation and the Mayor’s Fund for London.
It is backed by politicians including children’s minister Vicky Ford who spoke at a conference to launch the project yesterday (18 March).
Speaking to local authority representatives who attended the virtual event, Ford said: “Our pioneering Holiday Activities and Food programme has been expanded this year for the first time, so it will benefit many more children than ever before. This year, especially, I want children to make the most of their school holidays, so I'm thrilled that there is so much support and enthusiasm for the programme.
“It's fantastic to see the HAF Alliance coming together as we begin our work alongside local communities to deliver this hugely important support, beginning at Easter in line with remaining restrictions and growing further in the summer.”
The HAF was extended following a high-profile campaign led by footballer Marcus Rashford to improve access to food and activities during school holidays for the most disadvantaged families during the pandemic.
The £220m grant funding is allocated to 151 top-tier English local authorities to spend in 2021 on six weeks of free holiday club provision with food and activities for children and young people, aged five to 16, who are eligible for free school meals.
Jane Ashworth, founder of StreetGames and HAF Alliance spokesperson, said: “We have a perfect opportunity to use the energy of the 16 HAF Alliance members to motivate local authorities to go beyond a minimum-standards approach to HAF 2021 for children and young people and build a platform for future delivery.”
More from www.hafalliance.org
