Week 8 - Devon HAF Funding

On Monday last week I went to see Happy Holidays in Dawlish. In glorious sunshine nearly 50 children were running around having a smashing time.  They had been learning a dance, and performed it for me, the Dawlish town Deputy Mayor and the Dawlish Town Crier resplendent in his robes.

Happy Holidays run a scheme through the holidays offering a mix of places for children, some paid for, and others as part of the Devon HAF (Holiday Activities and Food) funded scheme..

They do great work for local children in Dawlish and offer a crucial service through the summer holidays. 

I saw nearly 50 children having a wonderful time, 

They are part of the Devon HAF programme (Devon Holiday Activities and Food Programme) which is a local initiative in Devon, UK, designed to support children who receive benefit-related free school meals during school holidays. Devon has over 105 Devon HAF programmes running across the county.

Devon HAF aims to alleviate some of the pressures families face during holidays by offering a range of free activities and nutritious meals for eligible children. 

The activities include physical and enriching options such as sports, arts, crafts, cooking, and outdoor adventures, providing children with both fun and educational experiences. Alongside these activities, the program ensures that each child receives at least one healthy meal per day.

Devon HAF and Happy Holidays. directly addresses food insecurity among children who rely on school meals during term time. This is crucial, especially during holidays when some vulnerable families may struggle to afford additional meals​. 

They also provide access to enriching activities like sports, arts, and outdoor experiences, which some families might not otherwise afford. They also really help reduce the opportunity gap between children from different socioeconomic backgrounds. This inclusion promotes social cohesion and gives all children a chance to thrive.

Keir Starmer's speech last week seems to have laid the groundwork for further cuts and tax rises which is going to hit working families in our local communities and push more families and children into poverty. I appreciate the government has tough decisions to make but they are decisions that shouldn’t fall on the most vulnerable in our communities. 

Happy Holidays has provided enriching activities that support children's social and educational development which is especially important for children from disadvantaged backgrounds which are going to be affected by Labours cuts. The program is a lifeline for many working parents, particularly those in low-income jobs, who struggle to afford childcare during holidays.

Devon HAF and Happy Holidays is in the final year of government funding, unless the new Labour government decides otherwise. This is a service that can’t afford to be wound up. I will be urging them to continue to fund initiatives like these.