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Christmas Holiday Activities and Food Programme
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Bookings are now open for the Christmas Holiday Activities and Food Programme
Get ready for festive fun with 34 FREE activity clubs across the borough.
As Christmas approaches, so does the excitement for the return of the Christmas Holiday Activities and Food Programme (HAF) funded by the Department for Education. Edsential have been working alongside Cheshire West and Chester Council to bring families together, with a whole host of festive activity clubs available that are designed to keep children and young people engaged and active this Christmas.
With a network of 34 clubs spread across the borough, the HAF programme is set to deliver an unforgettable experience for young people aged 5 to 16 years old in receipt of benefit related free school meals. This year, new clubs will be joining the programme, offering even more festive activities. From winter sports like ice skating and indoor football to holiday-themed arts and crafts, baking and cooking classes, nature bushcraft, campfires, and day trips all with a Christmas twist—this season promises something for every taste and interest. For older children, additional activities such as holiday wellness sessions, hair, and beauty workshops will be available. And the best part? Free, nutritious meals will be served throughout the programme, ensuring that children stay energised and nourished during the Christmas break.
The Summer HAF initiative saw over 4000 children and young people in Cheshire West and Chester benefitting from enriching activities and healthy meals provided. Those who took part were thrilled, with many parents praising the clubs’ ‘lovely staff’ and their ability to be ‘brilliant with kids.’ Parents were delighted that their children were entertained and well-fed during the holidays, and this Christmas is set to be even more special.
Cllr Adam Langan, Cabinet Member for Children and Young People at Cheshire West and Chester, said: “What a wonderful programme we have for this Christmas. So many children from all backgrounds, from all across the borough will get to enjoy a magical time. The activities for children and young people with Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND) will have an amazing impact on children and families. I hope the children enjoy the pantos, food hampers and all of the activities the teams have planned.”
Heather Lewis, the Programme Manager for HAF, expressed her excitement, stating,
“We have an exciting lineup of holiday activities and food clubs this Christmas for children and young people across Cheshire West. Our mission is to create a safe, festive, and inclusive environment where they can have fun, learn new skills, and form lasting friendships. It’s incredibly rewarding to be part of an initiative that helps young people thrive.”
Edsential urges all parents and carers to check if their child is eligible for free school meals, as it could unlock a host of benefits. Eligible children not only gain access to the diverse programme of Christmas activities but also delicious and nutritious free lunches throughout the school term.
Ready for your child to dive into a Christmas of excitement? Book your child's spot at one of the Christmas holiday activity clubs or check eligibility at: www.edsential.com/HAF.
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Summer Holiday Activities and Food Programme (HAF)
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The Cheshire West summer 2024 HAF provision will shortly be getting underway across the borough for children and young people who are in receipt of benefits-related free school meals (FSM).
The Council, alongside Edsential and a range of community partners, is running a wide range of fantastic activities that will run throughout the school summer holiday.
The HAF Programme is funded by Department for Education to support local organisations to provide fun activities for children and young people during the holidays, while also helping them to access healthy food.
This year, all provision for the HAF Programme can be found on the new dedicated west Cheshire area on the Edsential website Cheshire West & Chester – Edsential Holiday Activity Fund
Criteria/eligibility for the programme
This holiday provision is for school aged children from reception to year 11 (inclusive) who are eligible for benefits-related free school meals. Benefits-related free school meals (FSM) are available to pupils if their parents are in receipt of one of the qualifying benefits, and have a claim verified by their school or local authority.
Further information on eligibility for Free School Meals. Free school meals | Cheshire West and Chester Council
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Holiday Activities with Food (HAF) Programme
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The Council, alongside Edsential and a range of community partners, is running a wide range of fun activities for four days of the school Christmas holiday.
HAF is a national programme, funded by the government’s Department for Education, for children from reception to year 11 inclusive who are eligible for benefits-related free school meals (FSM).
Benefits-related free school meals are available to pupils if their parents are in receipt of one of the qualifying benefits, and have a claim verified by their school or local authority.
Find out if your child is eligible for free school meals
With a network of 67 clubs spread across the borough, children and young people who are eligible for free school meals between the ages of 5 - 16 are in for a festive treat. The programme will feature a diverse range of activities, including trips to see a pantomime, ice skating, graffiti art workshops, sports and much more. Alongside these exciting activities, everyone will receive nutritious festive meals to keep them energised throughout the Christmas holiday.
Youth Zones are available to 11–16-year-olds (up to 25 years for SEND young people) and will be providing eligible children and young people with a Christmas themed HAF offer.
Activities for Children with SEND - A number of organisations across the borough including the Council’s Youth Service and Brio Leisure, will be delivering SEND specific HAF sessions (available for ages up to 25 for SEND children and young people). Some sessions will also be offering places for siblings.A full list of all activities is available on the Holiday Activities with Food Cheshire West web page. Please note all activities must be booked in advance.
Holiday Activities with Food -
Healthy Start supports families in need
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Pregnant people and new parents could access extra support through the NHS Healthy Start scheme.
If you're more than 10 weeks pregnant or have a child under the age of four, the Healthy Start scheme can help you:
- buy healthy foods like milk or fruit
- get free vitamins.
You can also use the scheme to collect:
- Healthy Start vitamins, supporting you during pregnancy and breastfeeding
- vitamin drops for babies and young children, suitable from birth to four-years-old.
The scheme now uses pre-loaded cards, meaning those who already receive Healthy Start using paper vouchers must re-apply. You'll be contacted by Healthy Start when you can apply for the digital scheme.
The uptake in parts of west Cheshire, especially more rural areas, is low so make sure you register for this scheme if you're eligible.
You need to be claiming certain benefits to qualify but if you're pregnant, under the age of 18, and don’t receive any other benefits, you can still claim.
If you're eligible, you'll be sent a Healthy Start card with money on it that you can use in most UK shops that sell milk, infant formula, fruit, and vegetables. This includes:
- supermarkets
- convenience stores
- grocery stores
- drug stores and pharmacies
- markets
- dairy products stores
- news dealers and newsstands
- freezer and locker meat provisioners (such as butcher shops)
- petrol stations
The shop must display a Mastercard® logo. The logo is normally shown on the shop door or at the till. Ask an employee inside the shop if they take Mastercard® if you're unsure.
Your allowance will be added on to this card every four weeks.
You can use your card to buy:
- plain liquid cow's milk
- fresh, frozen and tinned fruit and vegetable
- fresh, dried and tinned pulses
- infant formula milk based on cow's milk.
A set of frequently asked questions are available on the Healthy Start website, covering things like applying for the scheme, how you can use it, advice for health professionals and more.
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Live Well Cheshire West
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If you're looking for support in your local area, look no further than Live Well. Live Well Cheshire West is a website produced by the Council, working with the NHS. It can help you find information about local services, support, activities, and events for everyone across a broad range of subjects including social care, health and wellbeing, education, employment, support for carers and much more.
Visit the Live Well page and put in your postcode or area, along with the type of support you are looking for, to find services near you. You can also filter the results by all sorts of different requirements like whether the service can cater to dietary requirements, or whether they are open before or after school times. Live Well offers support to people of all ages, including children and families.
Live Well Cheshire West: Malpas Community KitchenMoney Matters
There is a dedicated Money Matters section which can show you support for bills, budgeting, debt, benefits, and more. For example, if you live in rural Cheshire and are worried about affording hot meals for yourself or your family, you could visit Malpas Community Kitchen on a Wednesday lunchtime and enjoy a hot meal for free, no referral needed.
turn2us: Your Situation A-ZIf you are struggling to pay your bills as the cost of living rises, you may be eligible for benefits that you are not yet claiming. Live Well can direct you to this A-Z list of welfare benefits and grants, made by Turn2Us.
Changing Lives Together: What we doYou might need a new fridge or washing machine but not be able to afford a large sum right now. On Live Well, you can see a whole list of organisations that provide white goods and furniture at affordable prices. Changing Lives Together offer new and reused furniture for low prices, as well as many other services like distributing food that would otherwise have gone to waste, connecting socially isolated members of the community, and providing a community bus service to help residents get around.
Watch this short video which shows you how to find the information you're looking for on Live Well Cheshire West.
If you know anyone who is not online, Live Well can be accessed at any local Cheshire West and Chester Council library. Staff at the library can help people get online and find services to improve their computer skills.