Holiday activities and food (HAF) programme | Westmorland and Furness Council

From September 2026, the rules around free school meals will change. You can find out how this might affect you on this page

Free school meals are changing this September. Read about the new rules, and what they mean for Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) eligibility.

HAF programme

Fun, food and friendships for free.

If your child receives means-tested free school meals, they can enjoy free, fun-packed activities and nutritious meals during the school holidays . This is all through the Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) programme, funded by the Department for Education (DfE).

The HAF programme helps eligible children and families enjoy active, enriching school holidays. These holidays are filled with opportunities to learn, play, and connect.

About the programme

The HAF programme provides:

free, enriching activities
a healthy, tasty meal each day
opportunities to build confidence, make friends, and try something new

Children can attend up to:

4 days at Easter
16 days in the summer
4 days in the winter

The programme does not currently run during half-term holidays.

Types of activities

There’s something for everyone - our activities are designed to be fun, creative, and confidence-building.

Popular options include:

arts and crafts
sports and games
music, dance, and drama
science and creative learning
cooking and food education

Children will:

be more active and creative
make new friends
learn new skills
enjoy a healthy meal
stay safe and supported

Activities are delivered by experienced community groups, schools, youth organisations, and specialist providers. This includes those offering sessions for children with additional needs.

Who can take part

The HAF programme is primarily for children and young people who receive means-tested free school meals (FSM).

We also welcome applications from other eligible groups, including:

young carers
children who are cared for or care experienced
children and young people on Resettlement Schemes or seeking asylum
young people not in Education, Employment or Training (NEET)
children and young people in contact with the Youth Justice Service
children living in areas of deprivation
families in crisis
children with with special education needs and disability (SEND) or an Educational Health and Care Plan (EHCP) - up to the age of 18

Some providers may also offer paid-for or subsidised places, using additional funding.

The programme is only open to children and young people who live or go to school in the Westmorland and Furness area

Changes to free school meals from September 2026

Check how this affects HAF eligibility

The Government is expanding Free School Meals (FSM). From September 2026, all children whose household get Universal Credit will be eligible for a free school meal.

The rules for the Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) programme are not changing

HAF will still be for children and young people who qualify for targeted FSM. This includes families who get Universal Credit and earn less than £7,400 a year.

What does this mean?

From September 2026:

some children may be eligible for Free School Meals but not eligible for the HAF programme
HAF eligibility will continue to be based on the existing FSM threshold
local authorities will continue to use eligibility checks to determine who can access HAF funded places

Changes to transitional protections

Free School Meals have had special protection since 2018. This protection will end at the end of the 2025/26 academic year. Some children and young people previously eligible for HAF may not meet the criteria from the Winter 2026 holidays.

Additional support

Local authorities have some flexibility within the HAF programme. This is to support other children who may benefit from holiday provision, based on local need and priorities.

Families may also wish to explore:

alternative local holiday activity programmes
local family support services
other financial support that may be available through Universal Credit and related schemes

If you have any questions about who is eligible for HAF, please contact the HAF Team.

Book your child's place online

We now use Eequ for all of our HAF activity bookings. Eqeu is a simple, easy to use and trusted platform. Many councils across the UK use the system to manage their HAF programmes.

If you're a parent or guardian you can use Eequ to:

browse local HAF clubs and activities
view session details and locations
book places securely online
manage and update bookings with ease

Eqeu have created a short video tutorial, to make booking even easier. The video shows you how to use Eequ, step-by-step.

Watch the quick guide video on how to book a HAF session

Book activities on Eequ

When you can book your child's place

These dates are subject to change. Bookings for:

Easter will open on 26 February 2026
Summer will open on 18 June 2026
Winter will open on 19 November 2026

Checking eligibility and getting a booking code

You no longer need to email us to check your child’s eligibility or request a booking code. This will now be handled directly through the Eequ booking system.

When you register and log in to Eequ, the system will automatically guide you through the eligibility process and verify your child’s entitlement to the HAF programme.

If you experience any issues with your booking or if the system does not recognise your eligibility, please contact the HAF team for support.

Becoming a HAF provider

We’re always looking for enthusiastic and experienced providers to join our HAF network.

If you run community clubs, arts, sports, or youth sessions, and would like to offer HAF activities, please get in touch.

Before applying, please review the DfE guidance for HAF programme providers (GOV.UK).

Get in touch for further information

If you have any questions about who is eligible for HAF, experience issues with the booking process or would like to offer holiday activities, please contact the HAF Team.

Email: HAF@westmorlandandfurness.gov.uk

Please note: we no longer use the previous Cumbria County Council email address (HAF@cumbia.gov.uk).