By Jason Lewis, Local Democracy Reporter
Southampton City Council hosted schools minister Damian Hinds MP at Bitterne Park Primary School on Tuesday (April 9) to showcase a successful free holiday scheme, and urge the government to continue funding the nationwide programme permanently.
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Schools minister Damian Hinds MP meets mascot Coach Carrot at Bitterne Park Primary School during a visit to see Southampton's holiday activities
Department of Education funding for the nationwide holiday activities and food (HAF) programme currently ends next year.
Through the initiative children who are eligible for free school meals can enjoy a wide range of experiences from sports and drama to crafts and computing.
In Southampton, dozens of providers support the programme, which also gives youngsters healthy meals.
Southampton City Council cabinet member for children and learning, Cllr Alex Winning, welcomed schools minister Damian Hinds MP to Bitterne Park Primary School to see Southampton’s HAF programme in action.
Cllr Alex Winning, Southampton City Council cabinet member for children and learning, on the importance of government extending the holiday activities and food programme funding. Video: LDRS
Cllr Winning told the Local Democracy Reporting Service: “He’s been really impressed and I’m so proud of what the team here do and the whole city council have done such a great job.
“For me, I’m really proud to show this off to Damian Hinds. We know that we are in the top one per cent in terms of attendance for HAF in the country and to have his support there has been great.
“Also it is a nice opportunity for me to ask for the funding to be extended beyond what it is currently. He has taken that point away with him, which is all that I can ask for.”
The Labour councillor said it was “absolutely critical” that funding for HAF continued beyond the current financial settlement.
“We know the need is there and the demand is there,” Cllr Winning said.
“The outcomes we have been achieving through the HAF programme over the last three years have been great, so we need the government to prioritise it and say ‘yes, the funding is there permanently’.”
Schools minister Damian Hinds MP, right, with Southampton City Council's cabinet member for children and learning Cllr Alex Winning, centre, and council service manager for inclusion Bryn Roberts, left.
Around 3,000 spaces a day have been made available across Southampton in the current Easter break.
The city’s programme, which started in 2021, has prioritised inclusion, with many providers ensuring activities can be enjoyed by children with special educational needs.
Cllr Winning said his aspiration is for the programme to continue to grow and improve.
The council’s service manager for inclusion, Bryn Roberts, said last year 75,000 sessions were offered through the HAF programme with an attendance of 96 per cent.
“It is one of the most fun projects that I have had in my time and it is a kind of no-lose situation,” Mr Roberts said.
“Parents love that their children can go and have experiences. It is free, so it supports a variety of families in terms of their individual situations. They get a hot meal. They get taught about nutrition. They get to be active.”
More information about Southampton’s HAF programme, which will return in the summer, can be found at southampton.gov.uk/schools-learning/support-inclusion-education/haf/
The Local Democracy Reporting Service has approached the Department for Education for comment.
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