Holiday Activities and Food programme at Easter - Camden Rise

Camden Council and the Young Camden Foundation have launched a new government-funded programme of Holiday Activities and Food for children and young people aged five to 16 years who are eligible for free school meals. 

All of the activities can be accessed at a range of local providers for free by any child who receives free school meals at their Camden school (including local pupils who live in neighbouring boroughs). 

Camden schools have sent letters to families to be used as evidence that pupils receive free school meals, allowing parents to book onto the HAF programme with local providers for one week over Easter.

Young Camden Foundation, in partnership with Camden Council, have brought together a range of organisations offering free access to activities and a meal during the three main school holidays in 2021 (half-terms are not covered). Activities will run over four weeks in the summer, one week at Christmas and will start with one week during the upcoming Easter break.  

All the programmes include at least one meal a day, which will meet school food standards. There will also be an element of nutritional education each day, aimed at improving knowledge and awareness of healthy eating.

Coupled with the food aspects of the schemes, fun activities will be provided with opportunities to try out new things or get involved in activities your child might already enjoy. Activities will include physical sports or games, as well as creative activities like music or drama and day trips.

There will be a strong focus on safety, wellbeing, playing and learning. All provision will follow government guidelines about the current restrictions and will be COVID-secure.  In light of this, the Easter 2021 provision will be a mixture of face-to-face and virtual sessions, whereas in the summer the offer will be much broader and mainly face-to-face.

Because of COVID-19 restrictions, places are limited – especially at Easter - and we expect them to book up quickly.  In the summer, it is hoped that more places can be made available.  

Find out more:

• Please contact your child's school if you think your family is eligible but you haven't received a letter
• Take a look at the Holiday Activities and Food programme for Easter to find out what is on offer and how to book a place for your child
• Booking should be done directly with the organisation. You will need to show your letter, either when you book or on your child’s first day at the activity
• For children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities, please contact the organisations listed in the programme directly to see if your requirements can be accommodated
• Please contact the Young Camden Foundation if you have any general queries about the HAF programme.