PARENTS on benefits can continue to get access to free childcare as a major scheme has been extended for three years.
The government will pump £600million into extending the Holiday Activities Fund (HAF) programme.
The major scheme is funded by the Department for Education and provides free food alongside activities over the school holidays.
Local authorities are responsible for administering the scheme which means what exactly is on offer depends on where you live.
Most offer to help families with children in receipt of benefit-related free school meals.
But councils can also offer help to children outside of this group.
The HAF programme was rolled out in England in 2021, following successful pilots between 2018 and 2020.
The scheme has been extended many times since then, with the most recent round starting back in April.
The programme is mainly focused on school aged children from reception to year 11.
It came after research found that children from low income families are more likely to miss out on after-school activities and more likely to experience social isolation.
Andrew Forsey OBE, national director of Feeding Britain said:”This delivers a raft of benefits for children and their families, so it is excellent news that the government is extending this provision for a further three years.”
“Knowing that this support will continue to be available, for the next few years, will lift a weight off their shoulders.
Lynn Perry, chief executive of Barnardo’s, added: “This is why we’ve been campaigning for the Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) scheme to be extended – and it’s why we welcome this three-year extension.
“Earlier this year, the government rightly expanded free school meals to 500,000 more children in families receiving Universal Credit.”
She added: “We, alongside those families, need to know that these children will not be at risk of holiday hunger wherever they live across the country.”
HOW TO APPLY
The application process and what help you can get varies based on where you live.
For example, Ealing Council runs a workshops over Christmas, Easter and Summer.
Eligible children can receive up to four days of free activities and meals during each holiday period.
Each day includes a healthy meal, snacks and a selection of activities like sports and food workshops.
If you need more information you can email [email protected].
Brent council runs a simmilar scheme and gives children and young people can a minimum of 4 days of HAF programme activities over the Easter and Christmas holidays.
During the summer holidays children can get access to 16 days of activities for 4 hours each day.
What help is available for parents?
CHILDCARE can be a costly business. Here is how you can get help.
- 30 hours free childcare – Parents of three and four-year-olds can apply for 30 hours free childcare a week.
To qualify you must usually work at least 16 hours a week at the national living or minimum wage and earn less than £100,000 a year. - Tax credits – For children under 20, some families can get help with childcare costs.
- Childcare vouchers – If your employer offers childcare vouchers you can get up to £55 a week in tax and national insurance savings.
You pay for your childcare before your tax contributions are taken out.
This scheme is open to new joiners until October 4, 2018, when it is planned that tax-free childcare will replace the vouchers. - Tax-free childcare – Available to working families and the self-employed, for every £8 you put in the government will add an extra £2.