Get ready to book FREE festive fun
Activity booking for the winter Holiday Activities and Food Programme (HAF) opens at midday on Monday 2 December.
Published: 2 December 2024
Families who are eligible for benefits-related free school meals still have time to register for this winter’s HAF.
Thanks to grant funding, the council is also able to extend fun, enriching holiday activities to all children and young people through its Holiday Activities Programme (HAP).
The jam-packed festive activity programme is running during the Christmas school holidays and families are encouraged to check their local district HAF webpage to see what’s happening near them.
There are lots of great options to choose from including drama and science workshops, sports and games, art and crafts, music and dance, indoor and outdoor activities, as well as the very popular ticketed attractions such as ice skating and pantomimes.
More information about the programme is available at: www.gloucestershire.gov.uk/haf.
If they haven’t done so already, families are encouraged to:
Register for the Children’s Activities Booking System (CABS) now ready to select their choices when booking opens on Monday 2 December.
AND
Follow their district lead on social media to see what is happening in their area.
Families who require additional support to choose, book or attend HAF activities, can receive support from our HAF Community Connectors. There is one for each district, as well as a Specialist SEND Community Connector to improve support for children and young people with additional needs
Families eligible for benefits-related free school meals can also apply for Holiday Free School Meal vouchers, which the council is providing for one week during the school holidays.
Parents will receive £15 per week, for each eligible child from reception to year 11. Applications opened at midday on 25 November and will close at midday on 6 December. Vouchers will be distributed from 16 December.
Families can find out more
at www.gloucestershire.gov.uk/holiday-school-meal-vouchers/
Parents who have registered previously are automatically included and do not need to reapply.
Families whose circumstances may have changed, can find out about eligibility for free school meals on our website, and should contact childrensfund@gloucestershire.gov.uk to inform the team of any changes