Holiday Activities and Food Programme

Holiday activities for children

Children and young people across the district may be eligible for free school holiday club places and a meal.

The government’s Holiday Activities and Food Programme takes place during Easter, the summer holidays, and Christmas.

We have provided additional money so that there are further holiday activities during the February, May and October half terms.

The programme enables children and young people to enjoy fun activities with friends, and develop new skills.

Who is eligible?

The activities are for those who are eligible for benefits-related free school meals.

Other eligibility can include:

  • children assessed by the local authority as being in need, at risk or vulnerable
  • young carers
  • looked-after children or previously looked after children
  • children with an education, health and care (EHC) plan
  • children who have low attendance rates at school, or who are at risk of exclusion
  • children living in areas of high deprivation, or from low-income households, who are not in receipt of free school meals
  • children in transition phases between nursery and primary school or primary and secondary school

If a child is not eligible, most providers offer paid for spaces.

How can I book activities?

We use the online booking system Eequ. Guardians of eligible children can book spaces for HAF activities through our Eequ profile:

Book a holiday activity online

If you have any queries, please email HAFenquiries@baberghmidsuffolk.gov.uk.

Contact us

If you need any support, please contact our HAF Coordinator Rachel Cattermole on HAFenquiries@baberghmidsuffolk.gov.uk

Timetable of activities

We update this webpage with information about holiday activities available for children, as and when they happen.

Book a holiday activity online

Activities available

Please note that the table below details activities taking place in the districts of both Babergh and Mid Suffolk.

Dates Summary Provider Venue Contact
17 - 21 February Holiday club with multi-sports, arts and crafts.
From 9am - 5pm (early drop-off and late pick-up available)
Kicks and Tricks

Grace Cook Primary School
Stowmarket
IP14 1XJ

Email info@kicksandtricks.co.uk
Phone 01449 401630
17 - 21 February Holiday club with multi-sports, arts and crafts.
From 9am - 5pm (early drop-off and late pick-up available)
Kicks and Tricks Beaumont Primary School
Hadleigh
IP7 6GD
Email info@kicksandtricks.co.uk
Phone 01449 401630
17 - 21 February Family swim session, and Playworld.
For children of primary school age
Everyone Active Mid Suffolk Leisure Centre
Gainsborough Road
Stowmarket
IP14 1LH
Email trinityrose@everyoneactive.com
Phone 01449 674980
17 - 21 February Holiday club with football, multi-sports, arts and crafts, mini chefs, dodgeball.
For 5-12 year olds
Anglia Sports Management Brantham Leisure Centre
Brantham
CO11 1RZ
Email info@angliasportsmanagement.com
Phone 01206 392506
17 - 21 February Swimming - family offer and teen offer Abbeycroft Hadleigh Pool & Leisure
Hadleigh
IP7 5BH
Email HAF@acleisure.com
Phone 01284 757495
17 - 21 February Softplay offer Abbeycroft Kingfisher Leisure Centre
Sudbury
CO10 2SU
Email HAF@acleisure.com
Phone 01284 757495
17 - 21 February Multi-activity holiday camp with sports, arts and crafts, nature, and team games TayPlay Mid Suffolk Leisure Centre
Gainsborough Road
Stowmarket
IP14 1LH
Email info@tayplayactivitycamps.co.uk
Phone 01284 757495
17 - 18 February Multi-activity courses including a range of sports, activities, arts and crafts. For 5-12 year olds Premier Education St Peter and St Paul
Church Street
Eye
IP23 7BD
Email info@premier-education.com
Phone 01953 499040
17 - 18 February Adventure days introducing alternative physical activity through outdoor activities. For 8-12 year olds Abbeycroft 3rd Sudbury Scout Hut
6 Quay Lane
Sudbury
CO10 2AN
Email HAF@acleisure.com
Phone 01284 757495
17, 18 & 19 Feb Multi-sports, nerf, football, and dance camps Maxim Sports Wells Hall Primary School, CO10 0NH Email info@maximsportscoaching.co.uk
Phone 07973 885971
18 & 20 Feb Multi-sports, nerf, football, and dance camps Maxim Sports Cornard Leisure Centre
CO10 0JU
Email info@maximsportscoaching.co.uk
Phone 07973 885971
18 & 20 Feb Youth Centre activities including, pool table, table football, video & board games, garden, music, dancing & chat Eden’s Project Sudbury Youth Centre
45 Gainsborough Street
Sudbury
CO10 2EU
Email info@edensproject.co.uk
Phone 01787 375247
19 & 20 Feb Adventure days introducing alternative physical activity through outdoor activities. For 8-12 year olds Abbeycroft 1st Combs Scout Group
Combs Wood Drive
Stowmarket
IP14 2RJ
Email HAF@acleisure.com
Phone 01284 757495
20 & 21 Feb Multi-activity courses including a range of sports, activities, arts and crafts. For 5-12 year olds Premier Education Debenham Sports & Leisure Centre
Gracechurch Street
Debenham
IP14 6BL
Email info@premier-education.com
Phone 01953 499040

Become a provider

We were allocated £134,892.59 for the 2023-2024 Holiday Activities and Food Programme.

There are 2,220 means tested free school meal children (March 2022 statistics).

How can I become a provider?

If you are interested in providing activities for us, then you will need to apply for funding by completing an online application. 

  • If you are a new provider, please complete both Form A and Form B
  • If you have previously completed Form A within the last financial year - and have been approved - please complete Form B

Please see the deadlines for each application period:

  • Easter – application deadline 10 February 2025
  • Summer – application deadline 9 June 2025
  • Christmas – application deadline 20 October 2025

If you have any questions about the application process, please email HAFenquiries@baberghmidsuffolk.gov.uk

What are the requirements?

The requirements follow the Department for Education’s minimum standards, which include:

  • A school standard meal (ideally a hot meal)
  • Four hours of activities
  • One hour of physical activity
  • Some form of nutritional education
  • Providing signposting to families onto further services, if needed

Where can I learn more?

The Department for Education have published information about the HAF programme.

How we use your information

We will use the information you provide only for the purpose of this grant funds application. We will store the information securely in line with data protection laws. Please read our privacy policy for more information.