Parents are being urged to sign up to a Government programme which aims to ensure children have access to healthy food and activities during the school holidays.

The Government has made £220m available to councils to enable them to run the Holiday Activity and Food Programme during the summer and Christmas holidays.

The programme has been supporting children and families in the school holidays since 2018 and was expanded in light of the pandemic last year. In 2020, it operated across 17 local authorities, supporting around 50,000 children.

‘Thousands of young people will continue to benefit from the expanded Holiday Activities and Food programme, which the Government is expanding across the whole country with investment of up to £220m,’ said children and families minister Vicky Ford.

‘This summer it will continue to provide nutritious food, as well as activities like arts and crafts, sport, and music, to the children who would benefit the most – especially those eligible for free school meals.’

A new film featuring Marcus Rashford MBE was launched today calling on parents to sign up their children to the Government’s expanded Holiday Activity and Food Programme (HAF).

‘I’m grateful for the support of Henry Dimbleby, Marcus Rashford and the Food Foundation as champions for the programme and I hope many others follow their lead,’ said Ms Ford.

‘I urge parents and families to have a look at what’s on in their area for the summer holidays.’