Thousands of Peterborough children to receive free meals and activities during school holidays

Peterborough City Council will be working with local schools, voluntary and community organisations, and childcare providers to launch the Holiday Activities and Food Programme (HAF). This is thanks to Department for Education funding totalling £1.1 million for Peterborough.

The programme, which is optional for children who are eligible for Free School Meals to attend, will launch in the Easter holiday and will provide children with healthy food and enriching, fun activities. The programme will also cover the summer and Christmas holidays in 2021 and will run at multiple locations in the region.

Children are entitled to receive Free School Meals if they live in households claiming qualifying benefits. Eligible families can find providers who are part of the scheme by visiting https://fis.peterborough.gov.uk/kb5/peterborough/directory/family.page?familychannel=1Parents and carers should contact the provider directly to book a place. Places will be limited so parents and carers are encouraged to register as soon as possible.

Councillor Lynne Ayres, Cabinet Member for Children's Services, Education, Skills and the University, added: “Our new programme aims to ensure children are healthy, well-fed and active during the holidays. It is more important than ever before to make sure the needs of the most disadvantaged are at the heart of everything we do, and I strongly encourage all eligible children to take part in the enriching, fun activities during the holidays. I am sure the activities will create many happy memories for them. I would like to thank all those involved in the planning and launch of the HAF programme; you are all contributing to the welfare and development of our children and young people.”