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Holiday activities and Food provision (HAF) 2024

Free Government-funded holiday clubs with healthy meals for children who are claiming benefit-related free school meals.

Information for families

Easter HAF programme

The Easter Holiday Activity and Food Programme will run from Friday 29 March to Friday 12 April 12 2024.

Answer:

The clubs in this list offer free spaces for:

  • Children and young people living and or going to school in Tower Hamlets

and

  • Children and young people receive benefits-related free school meals.

Clubs are suitable for children and young people aged 4 to 16 years. Each club has different age groups. Check if they're right for your child before signing up.

Some clubs offer SEND places. Please enquire with the clubs directly about the support and services they offer SEND participants.

To find contact details for a club please search the website or social media links provided.

Clubs offering SEND placements

Canary Wharf Football Academy

Find out more about the organisation and offer: www.canarywharffa.org

Location:

  • Sir John McDougal Gardens, E14 8LN
  • Bow Cross Community Hub, E3 3EY          

Mainstream (but SEND places are available)

First Kicks sports Ltd        

Find out more about the organisation and offer: https://www.firstkickssports.co.uk

Location: St Agnes Catholic Primary school Rainhill Way, Bow London EN3 3ER.      

Offers Mainstream and SEND places

Junior Adventures Group

Find out more about the organisation and offer: haf@junioradventuresgroup.co.uk

Location: St Lukes CofE Primary School, E14 3EB           

Mainstream but cater for SEND

Social organisation for unity and leisure

Find out more about the organisation and offer: www.souluk.co.uk  

Locations:

  • Collingwood community centre, Barnsley Street, London, E1 5RB
  • Buckley court community centre, Ford Street, London, E3 5LT

Offers Mainstream and SEND places

St Andrews Youth Development Trust 

Find out more about the organisation and offer: https://www.standrewsyouthdevelopmenttrust.org/

Location: St Elizabeth primary school, Bonner Road, E2 9JY

Mainstream (but small number of SEND spaces available)

Udichi Shilpi Gosthi

Find out more about the organisation and offer: www.udichiuk.org

Location: Whitechapel Idea Store, 321 Whitechapel Road, London, E1 1BU

Offers Mainstream and SEND places

Mainstream clubs

Athletics Camp

Find out more about the organisation and offer/to register: https://forms.office.com/e/rTvtL0SYKz

Location: Mile End Stadium, Park Rhodeswell Road, Bromley-By-Bow, E14 7TW.  Track & Field     

Mainstream

Beyond the Bias LTD           

Find out more about the organisation and offer: www.beyondthebias.co.uk / @beyond.the.bias

Locations:

  • Poplar Baths Leisure Centre, 170 East India Dock Road, North Woolwich, E14 0ED
  • George Green School, 100 Manchester Road, London E14 3DW

Mainstream

Easter Future Stars Football Camp

11am to 3pm

Find out more about the organisation and offer/ to register: https://forms.office.com/e/sB6vzwVGMv

Location: 190 Burdett Road, London, E3 4HL

Mainstream

Easter Isle of Dogs Multi Sports Camp

Find out more about the organisation and offer/ to register: https://forms.office.com/e/H4XqQKYdiV

Location: George Green School facilities, 190 Manchester Rd, London, E14 3DW       

Mainstream

Leaders in Community     

Find out more about the organisation and offer: Home - Leaders in Community (licprojects.org)

Location: Teviot Centre, Wyvis Street, E14 6QD  

Mainstream

London Islamic School      

Find out more about the organisation and offer: arif@londonislamicschool.org

Locations:

  • London Islamic School, 18-22 Damien Street, London, E1 2HX 
  • Whitechapel Sports Centre, 55 Durward Street, Stepney, E1 5BA          

Mainstream

London Jaguars Community Association

Find out more about the organisation and offer: ljca.org@gmail.com

Location: Bernie Cameron Community Centre, 32 Merchant Street, Stepney, E3 4LX 

Mainstream

London Sportif

Find out more about the organisation and offer: www.londonsportif.com

Location: London Enterprise Academy, 81-91 Commercial Road, London E1 1RD

Mainstream

Manorfield Primary School

Find out more about the organisation and offer: https://www.manorfield.towerhamlets.sch.uk/

Location: Manorfield Primary School, Wyvis Street, E14 6QD   

Mainstream

Mile End leisure Centre and Stadium, GLL

Find out more about the organisation and offer: www.better.org.uk /Better_LBTH

Location: Mile End Park Leisure Centre & Stadium, 190 Burdett Road, Mile End, E3 4HL

Mainstream

Newark Youth London

Find out more about the organisation and offer: www.newark.org.uk  or @NewarkYouthLdn or https://en-gb.facebook.com/newarkyl/

Locations:

  • Locksley Community Centre, Dora Street, London, E14 7TP 
  • Cyprus Street Community Centre, Cyprus Street, London E2 0PE

Mainstream

Ocean Youth Connexions

Find out more about the organisation and offer: www.oceanyc.org  

Location: Ocean TLA, Forecourt Anson House, Ernest Street, London, E1 4SE

Mainstream

Olive Tree Education

Find out more about the organisation and offer: info.olivetreeeducation@yahoo.com

Locations: Waverley House, Pepper Street, E14 9RP

Mainstream

Stifford Centre Limited     

Find out more about the organisation and offer: www.stifford.org.uk

Location: Stifford Centre, 2-6 Cressy Place, Stepney Green, London, E1 3JG    

Mainstream

Trapped in Zone One

Find out more about the organisation and offer: https://www.trappedinzoneone.com/

Location: Feldy Community Space, 18 Aberfeldy Square, E14 0XA       

Mainstream

Poplar HARCA Spotlight

Find out more about the organisation and offer: www.wearespotlight.com

Location: Spotlight, 30 Hay Currie Street, E4 6GN

Mainstream

Premier Education

Find out more about the organisation and offer: Premier Education | No 1 provider of Sport, Arts & Wellbeing (premier-education.com)

Location: Cyril Jackson Primary School, Limehouse Causeway, E14 8AQ         

Mainstream

SimpleGifts: Unitarian Centre for Social Action

Find out more about the organisation and offer: www.simplegiftsucsa.org.uk

Location: Centre for Social Action, 117 Mansford Street, London E2 6LX        

Mainstream

Society Links Tower Hamlets

Find out more about the organisation and offer: http://www.societylinks.org.uk 

Location: 80 John Fisher Street, E1 8JX    

Mainstream

Tower Hamlets Education Foundation/Booster

Find out more about the organisation and offer: towerhamlets.ef@gmail.com

Location:

  • Idea Store Chrisp Street Market, 1 Vesey Path, E India Dock Rd, London E14 6BT
  • Idea Store Whitechapel, 321 Whitechapel Rd, London E1 1BU

Mainstream

Tower Hamlets Youth League United   

Find out more about the organisation and offer: https://thylunited.com

Locations:

  • Oxford House, Derbyshire Street, London, E2 6HG
  • Mile End Leisure Centre, 190 Burdett Road, London, E3 4HL     

Mainstream 

Tower Hamlets Youth Sport Foundation (Platform Cricket)

Find out more about the organisation and offer: www.platform-LDN.org

Location: Stepney Green Maths, Computing & Science College, E1 4SD

Mainstream

Weavers Adventure Playground Association  

Find out more about the organisation and offer: Adventure Playgrounds – Childrens play in London | Adventure Playgrounds | – London Play (londonadventureplaygrounds.org.uk)

Location: Weavers adventure playground Viaduct place, E2 0DR         

Mainstream

WISE Youth Trust   

Find out more about the organisation and offer: www.wiseyouthtrust.org.uk

Locations:

  • St. Peters North community Centre 1 Marian Place, Pritchards Road London, E2 9AX
  • Mile End Stadium, 8 Copperfield Road, London, E3 4RT

Mainstream

What do the programmes include?

During the Easter school holiday, thousands of children who are eligible for and claiming benefits-related free school meals can access a holiday activity club for free.

Open to eligible children and young people aged 4 to 16 years, all programmes provide:

  • free, nutritious, and tasty food
  • fun physical activity sessions
  • a wide range of other exciting activities to suit different ages and personalities
  • opportunities to learn more about food and nutrition for children and their families.

Holiday clubs welcome children with low-medium levels of SEN and/or disability. Children will be considered by each club on a case-by-case basis.

The programme also offers placements at SEND-specific clubs which can cater for more severe needs. Please enquire with clubs on the support they offer.

How do I sign up my child?

If your child is eligible for a free place at a HAF club, you would have received a HAF letter in the post.

To book a free place check the list of HAF clubs. Contact the club you wish your child to attend and follow their registration instructions.

When registering, you will need to quote your child’s HAF Code. This can be found at the top of your HAF letter.

Spots at clubs are given on a first-come, first-served basis. If you didn't get a spot at your preferred club, please look into options at other clubs.

I did not receive a HAF letter

If you did not receive a letter, please contact your school to find out if your child is receiving benefits-related Free School meal (not universal Free School Meals). This is only for children receiving benefits-related Free School Meals.

The council cannot issue new letters or copies of letters.

Neighbouring boroughs

If you are a resident of a neighbouring borough but your child is eligible and attends a school in Tower Hamlets, they are welcome to attend one of our HAF programmes. You might be able to go to a HAF programme in your borough.

Visit the boroughs' HAF pages for more information

Need support – How HAF can help

Your HAF club is connected to services that offer support and help with various things like

  • money advice
  • health
  • food

Simply contact your HAF club for help finding a service. Visit our support pages on specific services around the cost of living crisis.

Contact

For more information about the HAF programme, contact us at HAF@towerhamlets.gov.uk.

Information for providers

Important information

  • Expression of interest form applications for the 2024 Tower Hamlets HAF Programme are open from 29 February 2024 and will close at midnight 7 March 2024. 
  • Providers wanting to deliver from a park space MUST apply to the parks team by midnight on the 3 March.

About HAF

The HAF programme is funded by the Department for Education. This Easter, Tower Hamlets plans to offer a variety of holiday activities with diverse food options. Organisations from different sectors will provide the food based on local needs.

How and when to apply for HAF Programme grant funding

If you want to run a Tower Hamlets HAF Programme over Easter 2024, for an Expression of Interest form please email the HAF Team HAF@Towerhamlets.gov.uk. The application deadline is 4pm on 7 March 2024.

For more information about how to apply, check our grant guidance.

If you want to hold a HAF programme in a Tower Hamlets Park, send an email request to the Parks Team by 3 March 2024. Your request must be in by this date for it to be considered.

Selection process

We will use the information from your expression of interest form to award grant funding. This will be done according to the DfE HAF programme standards, aims, objectives, and grant guidance. We aim to do this efficiently, openly and transparently. Applications will be assessed by a panel of council officers.

What happens next

We will inform you about the outcome of your application for the HAF programme grant as soon as we review your application.