Free Holiday Activities and Food Programme

Dear Parent / Carer

The Department for Education (DfE) has provided grant funding to South Tyneside Council, to co-ordinate free holiday provision for children and young people aged 5-16 years entitled to free school meals. I wanted to ensure you were aware of the fantastic opportunities available to your child/children through the Holiday Activities and Food Programme (HAF).  The HAF programme has key objectives for children including:

• To have access to free healthy food over the school holidays
• To be more active during the school holidays
• To take part in free fun, engaging and enriching activities supporting resilience and wellbeing
• To be safe and make new friends in a sociable environment.

During the main school holidays of Easter, Summer and Christmas thousands of places can be booked ‘free of charge’ for a vast range of sport, arts/crafts, dance, and drama activities, along with family events such as bowling at The Dunes, nature activities at the Brockley Allotments and performances at The Customs House.  We also have organisations that provide specific sessions for SEND children.

All information regarding the activities on offer and how to book can be found at: www.southtyneside.gov.uk/holidayclub and bookings for our Spring programme will go live at

4pm on Friday 17^th March.  Please re-visit this site throughout the year to see updates and posts regarding the next available holiday programme.  Once activities are booked, we understand that things can change, but please ensure you cancel your place or contact the HAF team, as due to demand this ensures the place can be offered to another child or family that will benefit from it.

We hope you enjoy the activities on offer and if you would like to speak to a member of the HAF team or would like more information, please call 0191 4240118 or email HAF@southtyneside.gov.uk

Yours sincerely

Charlotte Sayers
HAF Coordinator
Simonside Climbing Wall