Groups can apply for up to £5,000 to deliver fun activities and food in the Christmas holidays
East Riding Council’s Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) grant scheme has launched for Christmas 2025. Applications are welcome from organisations, charities, schools, town and parish councils, faith groups and businesses to provide four-hour sessions and a healthy meal for children and young people in receipt of benefits-related free school meals.
Organisations can apply for up to £5,000 to deliver fun activities in the Christmas holidays. Sessions could include sport, play drama, cooking, crafts, music, art, outdoor adventure or animal experiences, among others. HAF grants can part-fund programmes that are open for all children, or fully fund those solely for eligible families.
Funding can be spent on management and staff, equipment, venue hire, food, marketing, capital costs, volunteer expenses and excursions. Councillor Victoria Aitken, cabinet member for children, families and education in the East Riding, said: “With our HAF summer programme coming to an end very soon, we are now launching our Christmas grant scheme.
“I hope lots of East Riding businesses, charities, schools and local groups apply for HAF Christmas funding, to help children have fun, keep active, learn about food and make lasting memories over the Christmas holidays.” The deadline for applications is noon on Monday, September 15.
The HAF programme is designed to provide children and young people who receive benefit-related free school meals with free fun activities across the school holidays. There are also a limited number of places made available to children and young people with an Education Health and Care Plan (EHCP).
East Riding Council encourages as many families as possible to get involved in HAF. Due to the demand for places, children and young people are able to attend four HAF activities for free at Easter, 16 sessions throughout the summer holidays and a further four activities at Christmas, with places allocated on a first-come, first served basis.
There are over 9,000 children and young people in the East Riding who are in receipt of free school meals, and with rising food, living and fuel costs, HAF enables families to enjoy a healthy meal and enriching activities during the holidays. If you are looking for free and paid-for events for all children and young people across the East Riding during the school holidays, you can visit the council’s school’s out page.
Find out how to apply for the HAF grant via the East Riding Council website page. For further information, visit the HAF website, or email haf.programme@eastriding.gov.uk
What restaurant would you like to see in Hull? You can have your say by completing the poll below or by clicking here.