Holiday Activities and Food (HAF): Information for parents and carers

Contents

  1. Overview
  2. Free holiday clubs
  3. Who can attend

Overview

Hundreds of children across South Tyneside will access free, nutritious food and enriching activities over the school holidays, as the Department for Education (DFE) has confirmed funding for the holiday activities and food programme (HAF) throughout 2024.

These free holiday clubs will continue to run to support families who are eligible for benefit related free school meals, over the holidays.

Activities include:

  • football and other camps offering a wide range of sports
  • surf school
  • swimming
  • musical theatre, dance, and drama workshops
  • our new 'Teen Ticket' which allows teenagers access to many attractions across South Tyneside

Free holiday clubs

The next programme of free holiday clubs is during the school winter holidays (Monday 23 December 2024 until Sunday 5 January 2024).

Places for winter activities will be available to book from Monday 2 December through our booking platform Plinth. 

All events are subject to availability and booking is essential.

Booking will now require you to create an account and choose your places on Plinth.

The sessions take place at a number of locations in South Tyneside and will include: 

  • a variety of fun activities
  • exciting opportunities to learn and develop skills
  • a nutritious meal each day
  • additional creative and cooking classes

Who can attend

To be eligible to attend the free holiday club activities, children and young people must:

  • be eligible for benefit related free school meals
  • be aged 5 to 16 years old or up to 18 with SEND (SEND children must still qualify for free school meals)
  • live or go to school in South Tyneside