Holiday Activity and Food, HAF, Provider – Stockport County Community Trust
Stockport County’s affiliated charity, The County Community Trust (CCT), have been providing Holiday Activity and Food (HAF) clubs for children aged 5-11 in Stockport since the summer, and regularly cater for around 50 young people everyday during the school holidays, which equated to around 800 young people catered for in the summer.
The HAF programme allows families with children in receipt of income-based free school meals to access free childcare provision during the school holidays.
Hosted at Dial Park Primary School, Stockport County offered sports including football, cricket and athletics, as well as arts and crafts and ‘free play’ activities using the school’s facilities.
They also engaged with the football club, with players Connor and James Jennings popping down to do a Q&A with the children. Children also got goody bags, tickets to Stockport County games and a virtual ground tour, as well as a Secret Santa hamper during the Christmas break.
Matthew Bailey, Community Partnerships Manager at Stockport County, says it was important to the team to know that the children were in a safe space.
“We had local catering from a sandwich shop in Edgeley, and our Stockport County chef created a recipe book that we gave to each of the children. Partners Secret Santa hampers supplied the ingredients for the recipes, so the children could go and make them at home. It’s about improving the whole holiday experience for low-income families and making a difference to children’s lives.”
Looking ahead, Stockport County Community Trust are providing the HAF programme again during the Easter holidays. They plan to collaborate with Stockport-based social enterprise PIE (Pursuit in Excellence), to offer children the chance to try their hand at stop motion animation.
“The HAF programme has allowed all participants taking part in the CCT HAF programme the opportunity to meet new people and make new friends,” says Matthew. “It’s a great chance to give something back to the community, something that’s really important to us as a football club.”
Could you be a HAF provider? Funding is available, and you’ll be changing the lives and experiences of children in Stockport. Get in touch for an informal chat to find out more by emailing HAF@stockport.gov.uk.
