The Rutland Holiday Activity and Food (HAF) programme is a free scheme funded by the Department for Education (DfE). It offers children and young people in Rutland fun activities and healthy meals during the school holidays.
What's on offer?
Children from Reception to Year 11 who are eligible for income-related free school meals can join free holiday clubs across the county. The clubs may include:
- sports
- arts and crafts
- cooking
- nature activities
- and more
Meals are provided, and everything is completely free.
You do not need to pre register. During your first booking, we will automatically create an account.
When are the Rutland holiday activities running?
- Summer 2025 - week commencing 14 July 2025 (secondary age children) and week commencing 21 July 2025 (primary age children) to 27 August 2025. Activities will be listed here in the middle of June 2025.
Who can take part in the programme?
If your child is eligible for free school meals (based on income), they can take part in the HAF programme. This is different from the Universal Infant Free School Meals offered by the government for Reception, Year 1, and Year 2 children. Only children eligible for income-related free school meals can join the HAF programme.
Benefits-related free school meals are available to children, if as a parent/carer you are receiving one of the qualifying benefits listed on the Gov.uk website and have had your claim verified by your child's school or local authority.
Check your eligibility and apply for free school meals on Gov.uk
As in previous years, we have discretion to use up to 15% of our funding to provide free or subsidised holiday club places for children who are not in receipt of benefits-related Free School Meals but who we believe could benefit from HAF. This year we will be prioritising our 15% discretionary funding for:
- children who are looked after
- children previously looked after
- young carers
- military children
- families in receipt of the Household Support Fund
Some activities may have age restrictions, so please check when booking.
Need help with transport?
If you need to use public transport to get your child to an activity, this is a good place to start.
If you need help with transport, support may be available. Each request will be considered on a case-by-case basis and is subject to limited availability. We will only consider a request where another form of transport cannot be reasonably be used, and it will only be provided to the nearest available activity.
To make a request for transport, email haf@rutland.gov.uk with your child's name, date of session, and your contact details.
One to one adult support
If your child requires a Personal Assistant (PA) to access an activity, this could be funded through their Aiming High funding or Carers Allowance. If additional support is still needed, support may be available. Each request will be considered on a case-by-case basis and is subject to limited availability.
To discuss your personal circumstances, email haf@rutland.gov.uk with your child's name, date of session, name of the activity and your contact details.