Easter Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) programme

A full list of Easter activities is available on the Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) Cheshire West web page HAF Cheshire West - Edsential

Please note all activities must be booked in advance.

Please feel free to share this information with friends and family of pupils who are eligible

The Council, alongside Edsential and a number of community partners are running a wide range of fun activities for four days of the school Easter holiday.

HAF is a national programme, funded by the government’s Department for Education, for children from reception to year 11 inclusive who are on benefits-related free school meals. It is available to eligible pupils if their parents claim has been verified by their school or local authority.

https://www.cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk/freeschoolmeals

Edsential a Community Interest Company is working with 40 organisations, including schools, community, voluntary and faith sector organisations to organise 59 holiday activity clubs throughout the borough this Easter.

Each eligible child will be provided with a good quality nutritious meal, plus there will be a variety of opportunities for children and young people to take part in exciting physical activities such as dodgeball, dance, archery, karate, rugby, football, and even a ‘Mini Olympics’. There will also be a diverse array of enrichment activities including mindfulness, forest school, den building, campfire cooking sessions, drama, storytelling, art, and puppetry.

The Youth Service programme for 11–16-year-olds (up to 25 for our Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) children and young people) will include a trip out to a range of activities including bowling, ice skating, Chester Zoo, Goals Chester, as well as events being arranged within clubs, Easter Bingo Army, assault courses, Graffiti Art and yoga.

Brio Leisure will be offering lots of activities including sports camps at Neston Recreation Centre for 5 – 12-year-olds, performing arts at Northwich Memorial Court for 5 – 10 year olds, and fun floats and sports. SEND craft sessions, will be available at Ellesmere Port Sports Village, Winsford Lifestyle Centre and Northwich Memorial Court for young people aged 5 – 18 years.

Provision for SEND children and young people who are eligible through benefits-related free school meals is being offered. Some providers are able to offer paid for places for those not eligible, based on the guidance to attend their HAF programmes. This is in addition to other programmes being offered by providers more widely. We are encouraging families to check with providers whether they are able to provide support to enable attendance as well as what options are open to them around places.

The SEND-specific offer will include sessions such as multi-sports, fun floats and swimming offered by Brio, as well as provisions offering the chance to attend Chester Zoo, mini-mindfulness sessions for children and their families, a visit to a petting zoo, circus skills workshops, assisted sport (dodgeball / tennis), and sensory activities, (Lego/art).

If you have any questions about the HAF programme, please email HAF@cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk