Holiday Activities and Food annual report 2025

The Department for Education allocated £808,730 to Gateshead in 2025 to deliver the Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) programme during the Easter, Summer and Christmas school holidays. The programme supports children eligible for benefits-related free school meals (FSM), as well as other vulnerable children across the borough.

Our holiday clubs provide a comprehensive offer that includes:

• Healthy meals
• Enriching activities, offering fun opportunities to develop skills and knowledge
• Physical activities that meet recommended guidelines
• Nutritional education, helping children understand healthy eating and how to source, prepare and cook nutritious, low-cost meals
• Signposting and referrals to wider services and support

As of April 2026, there were 7,875 children eligible for free school meals in Gateshead, living across 5,053 households. The programme also aims to support additional families who may be struggling financially but do not access FSM benefits.

A HAF steering group meets termly to plan and coordinate the Brighten the Day programme. The group includes representatives from Public Health, Children's Services, the Poverty Team, Localities Team, Leisure Team, Gateshead Youth Council, Libraries Team, Communications Team and the Digital Team.

We continue to work closely with schools across Gateshead to expand the reach of the HAF programme. In 2025, we increased engagement with schools, particularly secondary schools and academies. More recently, we have introduced an e-voucher booking system via HolidayActivities.com. This platform helps ensure that we are reaching as many FSM-eligible children as possible.

DfE funding allocation of £808,730 for 2025 in Gateshead to fund Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) over the Easter, Summer and Christmas school holidays for benefits-related free school meal (FSM) recipients and vulnerable children.

The holiday clubs in Gateshead were delivered in 65 venues: 14 community organisations, 21 schools (including 4 secondary and 1 SEND-specific schools), 12 sports venues, 3 Arts and Theatre Groups, 4 Pop Ups, 4 Family Hubs, 3 Jewish young people's support groups, 2 refugee and asylum groups and 2 church organisations.

21,336 places were delivered across the three programmes - Easter, Summer and Christmas.

In 2025, HAF funded over 100 educational/cultural/enriching visits for families including:

• a day at the beach
• a day in the woods
• ice skating
• museum visits
• cinema
• pantomime 
• art galleries
• ten pin bowling
• cooking

The programme was very popular and was well received by children and young people and their parents and carers. 

Case Study: HAF Plus and Age UK - Garden Mural

Working with Creative Youth Opportunities CIC, some of our HAF Plus 2025 cohort spent several sunny days at Age UK Gateshead's Dementia Wellbeing Centre, designing and painting a magnificent mural, capturing all of the iconic landmarks in Gateshead and the North East. The teenagers consulted with Age UK and Creative Youth Opportunities CIC to put together a bespoke design. 

"Welcome to Age UK Gateshead's Dementia Wellbeing Centre, where we believe that every day is a chance for joy, connection, and cherished memories! Our hub is a vibrant, welcoming space designed to bring smiles and laughter to all who join us."

The activities:

This was supplemented with some online cookalongs and some sexual health advice which could be accessed via the resources side of the app.

The food offer was managed through perks held in and spent via the app.

The choices were:

• Grounded Kitchen - smoothie and poke bowl (choice of 4 protein options)
• Subway - sandwich, fruit juice or water and fruit leather
• Greggs - restricted to school food standards items as determined by the Northumbria University nutritional review

Northumbria University conducted a detailed review of the programme by speaking to providers, HAF co-ordinators and young people (opens new window).

The popularity of each activity was then used to guide which sessions to offer at Christmas 2025, Easter 2026 and Summer 2026.

Finance

Total spend - £808,730. This was broken down as follows:

• administration - £80,873 administration costs include funding for HAF Lead Officer and HAF Programme Support Officer
• capital expenditure - £15,151.05
• programme expenditure - £651,866.96
• Other expenditure - £488.60
• Booking system costs - £17,150.00

Total places filled in Gateshead

Primary school children

Secondary school children

Unique child places in Gateshead

Included in these figures are:

• 1,061 children with SEND
• 212 children whose parents are refugee and asylum seekers. These clubs were specifically designed for this demographic. Some of these children would have attended other clubs outside this specific provision
• 164 Jewish children - funded from the 15% allowed under the grant conditions for non-FSM.

The average cost per child per day was between £25 - £32, with SEND and asylum seeker provision resulting in higher cost per day figures.

The holiday clubs in Gateshead were delivered in 65 venues: 14 community organisations, 21 schools (including 4 secondary and 1 SEND-specific schools), 12 sports venues, 3 Arts and Theatre Groups, 4 Pop Ups, 4 Family Hubs, 3 Jewish young people's support groups, 2 refugee and asylum groups and 2 church organisations.

Following our 2025 Christmas provision, we hosted a Providers Forum at Age UK in central Gateshead. The event was well attended, with over 20 providers joining us on the day. This provided a valuable opportunity for partners to come together in person, strengthen relationships, collaborate more effectively, and share best practice across the network.

The forum featured a range of insightful guest speakers, each bringing expertise to support and enhance delivery across the HAF programme. Rise North East delivered an informative session focused on safeguarding children, offering practical guidance and reinforcing the importance of maintaining robust safeguarding practices throughout provision.

We also welcomed NE First Credit Union, who presented on the support they can offer families in managing their finances. Their session highlighted the importance of financial resilience, as well as the value of introducing children to financial literacy from a young age to help build long-term skills and confidence.

In addition, Active Future - one of our most established and successful providers - shared their experience and expertise in maximising engagement and extending reach within the HAF programme. Their presentation offered practical strategies and real-world examples of effective delivery, providing valuable insights for other providers to apply in their own settings.

Overall, the forum was a highly productive and engaging event, fostering collaboration and equipping providers with the tools and knowledge needed to enhance future delivery.

Background

In early 2022, we identified a lack of teenage engagement in the mainstream HAF programme. Addressing this gap among such an important age group quickly became a key priority for the Gateshead HAF programme. Discussions with HAF Leads across England during this period confirmed that this was not unique to Gateshead; it was a widespread challenge affecting many HAF programmes nationally.

Building on our previous successful collaborations with Professor Greta Defeyter, Professor of Developmental Psychology at Northumbria University, we engaged her and her academic team to support this work. We were confident that their innovative and research-informed approach would help Gateshead Council develop, design, and deliver a new HAF Plus programme tailored specifically for teenagers.

Professor Defeyter and her team developed a design sprint model, working closely with teenagers in Gateshead alongside key adult stakeholders. Through this collaborative process, they co-designed a distinctive HAF Plus programme that reflects the needs and interests of young people. Supported by Gateshead Council, the NUFC Foundation, and the Gateshead Youth Assembly, this partnership drove the planning and development of the programme.

Throughout autumn and winter 2022, young people—supported by these key partner organisations—played a central role in co-designing the HAF Plus model for Gateshead. In recognition of their work, they were invited to present this innovative programme to the Department for Education in October 2022.

HAF Plus 2025

To support the continuation and expansion of HAFplus, Gateshead Council commissioned the development of a dedicated app to host the programme, enabling a transition from a paper-based system to a digital platform. The app has since been successfully implemented during Summer and Winter 2024, Easter 2025, Summer 2025, and Christmas 2025.

The HAFplus app is accessible to children via a unique code issued by the HAF team, allowing them to download, access, and log in to the platform.

We continue to use the HAF Plus app developed with Nebula Labs to support delivery of the programme. Throughout 2025, we focused on further enhancing the app, making it more user-friendly and accessible for teenagers. Nebula Labs have consistently provided exceptional service, working closely with the Gateshead Council HAF team to continually improve accessibility and engagement for those participating in the HAF Plus programme.

"It's easy to use with no fuss!"

This event was a celebration of the HAFplus programme and provided children with a wonderful opportunity to come together and take part in a fun-filled day of activities. It gave each child the chance to meet and socialise with other young people who had also participated in the programme, helping to build new friendships and strengthen a sense of community.

Throughout the day, a wide variety of engaging and enjoyable activities were available to suit different interests and encourage participation. Children had the opportunity to get involved in cooking sessions, take part in sports activities, explore entrepreneurship, and enjoy more adventurous experiences such as swimming and climbing. These activities were designed to be both fun and enriching, supporting the development of new skills and confidence.

Lunch was provided for every young person who attended, ensuring that all participants were well catered for and able to fully enjoy the day. Overall, the event was a positive and memorable experience for everyone involved, celebrating achievements and encouraging continued engagement in future programmes.

The young people who participated in HAF Plus noted that they enjoyed the food element of the programme. Young people were provided with free food vouchers, allowing them to choose from a variety of establishments including Grounded Kitchen, Subway and Greggs.

"I loved Grounded Kitchen with all my heart and soul."

Providing young people with travel passes also proved very successful, allowing them to travel to and from activities, and giving them a sense of independence.

"Having your bus fare paid for already and stuff and not having to worry about the money made it so much easier to go out with friends, because you were like 'ah I've got this I don't need to worry about having the money for it'. I didn't need to worry about my Pop Card if I'd lost that or something. It just made it a lot simpler."

The HAF Plus app, developed in partnership with Nebula Labs, proved important to the success of the programme - it allowed young people to make and cancel registrations to clubs themselves.

"Well, most people have phones and its easier than all going to the Metrocentre and signing up on bits of paper and then it makes it easier to cancel. Yeah, and then you've always got your phone on you so it's convenient."

Case Study: HAF Plus and Age UK - Garden Mural

Working in partnership with Creative Youth Opportunities CIC, several young people from our HAF Plus 2025 cohort spent a series of bright, sunny days at Age UK Gateshead's Dementia Wellbeing Centre, bringing creativity and community spirit together through art. During their time there, the group designed and painted a magnificent mural that celebrates the rich character and identity of Gateshead and the wider North East.

The artwork features a collection of iconic local landmarks, thoughtfully chosen to reflect the heritage and pride of the region. In the lead-up to the project, the teenagers worked closely with both Age UK Gateshead and Creative Youth Opportunities CIC, collaborating to develop a bespoke design that would resonate with visitors, staff, and members of the centre.

This project not only allowed the young people to showcase their artistic talents but also provided a meaningful opportunity to engage with the local community, contributing to a welcoming and inspiring environment for those who use the Dementia Wellbeing Centre.

"Welcome to Age UK Gateshead's Dementia Wellbeing Centre, where we believe that every day is a chance for joy, connection, and cherished memories! Our hub is a vibrant, welcoming space designed to bring smiles and laughter to all who join us." Once again in 2025, with guidance and support from Greta's academic team, NUcastle Foundation and Gateshead Council, the young people involved managed their own independent programme of activities, making their own decisions on what activities to engage or attend.

Activities included:

• Barista workshops with Collie Makes Coffee, learning the art of making cafe-grade coffee
• Mural painting at Age UK, in collaboration with Creative Youth Opportunities
• 10-pin bowling
• Escape rooms
• Boardgame hangouts
• Cooking sessions
• Climbing wall
• Creative writing workshops with New Writing North

We adopted a multi-channel marketing approach to promote our 2025 Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) provision. Our strategy placed a strong emphasis on targeted communication, ensuring we maximised our reach among eligible families and increased awareness of the opportunities available across Gateshead. By focusing on more direct and personalised methods, we were able to connect more effectively with those most likely to benefit from the programme.

A key element of our approach was the use of our primary booking platform, HolidayActivities.com. This system plays a vital role in engaging families whose children are eligible for benefits-related free school meals and, therefore, qualify for HAF provision. Through this platform, we are able to streamline communication, promote available activities, and support families in accessing and booking provision with ease.

In addition, we strengthened our partnership working by collaborating closely with the Revenues and Benefits Team at Gateshead Council. This enabled us to deliver targeted communications directly to eligible households, ensuring that key information about the programme reached the right audiences in a timely and effective manner. By combining digital tools with established council networks, we were able to enhance both the visibility and accessibility of the HAF offer.

To promote our HAF programme we have a dedicated Brighten the Day webpage. The website features a promotional video for Brighten the Day, activities for families to get involved in outside of the HAF programme and details of the latest programme with how to book. 

2025 marketing activity included:

• articles on the council's news story web pages
• press release on funding and activities released to local media
• stories in Council News, our resident's magazine which is distributed to over 95,000 households across Gateshead
• articles in Gateshead Now, our digital e-newsletter which has over 34,000 subscribers
• articles in our internal employee bulletin, distributed to over 4,000 staff
• social media via our corporate Facebook and X social media pages
• branded HAF pop up stands which are used at activities and events.
• emails and SMS to FSM families

During the Christmas break, the Gateshead HAF programme embraced remote delivery to maximise reach at a time when weather challenges and bank holidays can make attending in-person clubs difficult. By partnering for the first time with Blaydon-based charity Feeding Families to develop recipe boxes, we were also able to allocate more of our HAF programme budget locally—supporting businesses and families across the borough.

Recipe boxes for the nutritious Rainbow Couscous and Curry in a Hurry were carefully prepared and, for the first time, packed by volunteers from Peace of Mind, a refugee and asylum seeker organisation. Volunteers worked in the warehouse between Christmas and New Year to pack fresh ingredients. Cook-along videos were also developed to support families in preparing meals in real time (https://youtu.be/aUz7Q0yONJk?feature=shared). These were delivered alongside Wild for Life activity boxes, which encouraged children to get outdoors and engage in activities such as building bird boxes, taking part in winter treasure hunts, and making bobble hats.

In 2025, one of our key nutritional priorities was to increase the fibre content of meals provided across HAF clubs. This followed the publication of a statistic highlighting that one in three GP appointments for primary-aged children in Gateshead relates to constipation. In response, we shared targeted communications with HAF providers, emphasising the importance of high-fibre meals within their provision. We also developed an infographic to support both providers and parents in understanding and promoting fibre-rich diets.

In the same year, we awarded capital funding to nine HAF partners through the Capital Expenditure Grant Award. This funding supported the purchase of equipment to enhance the quality of holiday clubs in 2025 and beyond. It was particularly encouraging to see several providers invest in kitchen equipment to strengthen their food provision. This not only enabled them to prepare meals to a higher standard, but also created opportunities for children to participate in food preparation and cooking. Involving children in these activities is essential to delivering high-quality nutritional education within the HAF programme.

Food waste continues to be a challenge for some providers, particularly where limited meal options are offered. In several cases, providers have reported increased waste when only a single choice is available. To address this, we have worked closely with organisations to improve their approach—encouraging the use of caterers who can offer variety, as well as introducing creative initiatives such as 'Bushtucker Trials' to build children's confidence in trying new and unfamiliar foods.

As part of our ongoing efforts to reduce food waste in 2025, we introduced an engaging and innovative initiative for HAF providers: the 'smoothie bike'. This initiative enabled children to create their own smoothies using surplus fruit and vegetables that might otherwise have been discarded.

By combining physical activity with hands-on nutritional education, the smoothie bikes proved highly effective. Children powered the blenders themselves, producing fresh, healthy smoothies while gaining a greater understanding of sustainable food choices.

Through the Capital Expenditure Grant Fund, we were able to support a Gateshead HAF provider with funding to purchase two smoothie bikes for use within their provision. We have also encouraged the organisation to share this resource by lending the bikes to other HAF providers when they are not in use, maximising their impact across the programme.

Chicken or vegetable fajitas remain the most popular meal across the clubs in Gateshead perhaps because they are so colourful as well as tasty, with pasta bolognese of course coming a close second. Clubs continue to provide children with a range of healthy snacks, including fresh fruit and vegetables.

Additional funding and support

We would like to thank the following organisations for their support during the HAF and HAF Plus programme over 2024. With their support, we were able to provide additional fun-filled activities and provisions for the children and young people.

• Greggs Foundation
• Albany Contract Furniture
• Morrisons
• Grounded Kitchen
• Languard

In 2025, our Pop-Up Kitchens continued to play a vital role across the Gateshead Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) programme. These mobile kitchen units were in constant demand and travelled between numerous HAF clubs throughout the borough. Their portability is a key strength, enabling a wide range of children across Gateshead to access and benefit from high-quality, practical cooking experiences, regardless of location. This flexible model ensures that opportunities for food education are distributed equitably, reaching communities that might otherwise have limited access to such resources.

The use of the Pop-Up Kitchens broadly falls into two main categories. Firstly, children are given the opportunity to prepare and cook their own meals during sessions, typically their lunch for that day. Secondly, sessions are also designed to enable children to cook meals that they can take home, encouraging shared family mealtimes and extending the impact of the programme beyond the club setting. Both approaches have proven highly effective in building confidence, independence, and enthusiasm around food.

Currently, we operate five Pop-Up Kitchens. Each unit is designed to safely accommodate hands-on learning for groups of children, with the capacity to support up to 16 children working in pairs or up to 24 children working in groups of three. This structure allows for collaborative learning while ensuring that each child remains actively involved in the cooking process.

We have consistently observed that when children are directly involved in preparing their own meals, they are significantly more likely to eat and enjoy the food they have made. This engagement not only promotes healthier eating habits but also deepens their understanding of where food comes from and how it is prepared. Importantly, it equips them with practical life skills—such as food preparation, kitchen safety, and basic nutrition knowledge—that can have lasting benefits well into adulthood.

Beyond holiday provision, the Pop-Up Kitchens are also utilised during term time and selected half-term periods. They can be loaned out to youth clubs and adult learning programmes, further extending their reach and supporting nutritional education across the wider community. In addition, we maintain a supply of ten high-powered blenders that can be borrowed by clubs. These are used to create healthy smoothies, soups, and other nutritious recipes, offering an accessible way for both children and adults to explore healthier food choices.

During the Christmas break, the Gateshead HAF programme adapted its delivery model to a remote format. This approach helped to overcome challenges such as adverse weather conditions and seasonal closures, while also creating new opportunities to strengthen local partnerships. In collaboration with Feeding Families, we developed and distributed recipe boxes that not only supported families but also sourced ingredients from local businesses, thereby contributing to the local economy. Volunteers from Peace of Mind played a crucial role in assembling these boxes, demonstrating strong community collaboration.

Each recipe box contained ingredients for simple, nutritious meals—such as Rainbow Couscous and Curry in a Hurry—alongside engaging cook-along videos and Wild for Life activity packs designed to encourage outdoor play and physical activity. This holistic approach ensured that families were supported not only nutritionally, but also in maintaining active and healthy lifestyles during the holiday period.

In 2025, we also placed a stronger emphasis on improving dietary fibre intake. This focus arose after identifying relatively high rates of constipation among primary-aged children within the programme. In response, we provided targeted guidance to HAF providers and developed an accessible infographic aimed at both providers and families. This resource promoted the importance of fibre-rich diets and offered practical suggestions for incorporating more fibre into everyday meals.

Engagement activities such as Bushtucker Trials have proven particularly popular with children. These sessions encourage participants to try new foods, textures, and flavours in a fun and supportive environment. As well as broadening children's tastes, this activity has also contributed to reducing food waste, as children are more willing to try unfamiliar foods rather than discard them.

In line with our commitment to sustainability and healthy lifestyles, we have also introduced smoothie bikes across a number of HAF provisions. These interactive resources allow children to generate the power needed to blend their own smoothies through physical activity. Typically, the smoothies are made using surplus fruit and vegetables, helping to minimise food waste while promoting both exercise and nutrition in an engaging, hands-on way.

Finally, resources available on the GULP website have continued to be widely used within HAF clubs, particularly during post-lunch sessions. These resources provide interactive and visual tools to help children understand the sugar content of many popular drinks. By presenting this information in an engaging and accessible format, children are better equipped to make informed and healthier choices.

Enriching Activities

In addition to delivering their core programme, all providers in Gateshead offer young people a range of enriching activities. Each provider delivers one or more activities designed to engage, inspire, and support development. Examples include:

• arts and crafts
• arts and culture
• baking
• board games
• circus skills
• computing
• cooking
• dance
• educational trips
• environmental activities and trips
• gardening
• LEGO
• music activities ("Let's Get Musical")
• local history
• maths games
• photography
• puzzles
• scrapbooking
• storytime
• theatre
• sports (various)
• volunteering opportunities
• animal encounters

Signposting and referrals

Participants and their families were provided with information, guidance, and referrals to a range of additional services and support. These included:

• Citizens Advice Gateshead (CAG)
• Rise North East
• Children's Services
• Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) and benefits support
• Police services
• Alcoholics Anonymous (AA)
• Access to free furniture
• Housing support within Gateshead

In addition, specialist services have engaged directly with HAF and HAF Plus venues. These include the Children and Young People's Mental Health Service, as well as visits from the South of Tyne NHS Dental Team and Gateshead Waste and Recycling Services during the Summer 2025 programme.

Gateshead Council's Community Physical Activity Team is strongly represented on the HAF Steering Group. Through the delivery of their strand of the programme, they are able to collaborate with and draw upon the expertise of a wide range of local community sport organisations.

In addition, a number of sports clubs apply directly for funding, enabling the HAF programme to offer high-quality, engaging physical activity sessions delivered by experienced coaches with national governing body qualifications. Several activities are hosted at venues that may otherwise feel inaccessible to the target group, such as Gateshead International Stadium. It is particularly rewarding to see local children excited to participate in the same setting that has hosted international athletes.

The programme also includes multi-sport camps, some of which offer daily swimming, further enhancing the breadth and quality of provision available.

The Gateshead HAF Team believes that this wide range of activities promotes inclusivity by providing choice. However, it also recognises that some children may not engage with more structured or formal physical activity environments and delivery formats.

Although not directly linked to physical activity outcomes, it is important to highlight that these sports sessions offer valuable opportunities for young coaches to gain practical experience. This contributes to the development of their life skills and enhances their future employability.

Feedback from the children, parents and providers has been really positive. Here are just a few of the comments we've received:

Feedback from parents

Parents and carers reported that the benefits to their young people had been hugely positive. All thought that attendance had made their young person: happy, more confident, more independent, build friendships, and better prepared to return to school in the following term.

"The choice of activities was great and the ones we went on were fantastic. 

So much fun and met some lovely parents too!"

"My child went to a football camp and had an absolute blast! They made new friends, the staff were friendly and he came away very happy."

"Amazing. My eldest son loved the football camps & he met new friends. My youngest is SEN and WOW, the people running the clubs where amazing with him!"

Feedback from children

"I enjoyed every activity there was, it was fun and it helps me make new friends."

"I enjoyed the variety of activities that were on offer."

"I enjoy meeting new people on activities."

Feedback from providers

"The team are amazing, I cannot thank them enough!"

"I found the application process easy and team very responsive with queries."

"Overall our Easter clubs were very successful. We always really appreciate working with the HAF team who are always amazing! Thank you for all your hard work!"

The Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) team at Gateshead Council is committed to listening to and learning from the families we support. In line with this commitment, throughout 2025 we actively engaged with parents and carers by attending a number of parent carer forums. These sessions provided valuable opportunities to hear directly from families, ensuring that the voices of parents and carers are central to the development of our programme.

A key theme that emerged from these discussions was a desire for more family-focused opportunities, alongside an increase in activities specifically designed to support children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). Families expressed the importance of being able to enjoy activities together in inclusive environments, as well as the need for provision that caters more specifically to the needs of SEND children.

In response to this feedback, we expanded our offer over the Christmas period to include a range of family-based activities. These included inclusive family crazy golf sessions, engaging musical performances at The Glasshouse, and a festive pantomime at The Customs House in South Shields. These events were designed not only to provide enjoyable experiences but also to create opportunities for families to spend meaningful time together during the holiday season.

We remain fully committed to ensuring that the HAF programme is inclusive and accessible for children from all backgrounds, including those with SEND. Many of our HAF providers are highly skilled and experienced in supporting children with a wide range of additional needs, ensuring that activities are welcoming, safe, and enjoyable for all participants.

Our SEND provision plays a vital role in enabling every child to take part, have fun, and reach their full potential. It also offers valuable respite for parents and carers during school holidays, giving families additional support when it is most needed. As part of our ongoing commitment, we continue to work closely with our providers to enhance their skills and confidence through dedicated SEND training, while also encouraging the development and expansion of SEND-specific provision across the HAF programme.

Feedback from parents and carers of SEND children has been overwhelmingly positive, highlighting the impact that inclusive, well-designed provision can have on both children and their families. We have included a selection of these comments below to reflect their experiences.

"We attended golf at the Metrocentre as a family. The staff there are absolutely lovely and couldn't be more helpful. This is the second time we have attended this event with you. The staff are very accommodating and allowed my younger child to join in each time we went as child care is a big issue for me."

"Attended Pinocchio at The Customs House, and thoroughly enjoyed it!"

"During the holiday, we had a wonderful and enjoyable time, spending quality moments with our families and friends. We also made sure to use our time in a positive way by reading, developing our skills, and practicing our favourite hobbies. 

The holiday was a great opportunity to relax and recharge, which helped us return to school feeling refreshed, motivated, and ready to learn. We are excited for this new term and will do our best to achieve success and excellent results."

School-age Childcare and Ofsted

The approach being taken is a two-pronged strategy focused on both educating and engaging current commercial providers who run holiday clubs about what the HAF programme is and how it works. Support from the 0-5 and Free Breakfast Clubs team within the local authority has been invaluable in this process, and as a result, four to five clubs have already applied for Summer 2026. Alongside this, efforts are being made to simplify the process for existing HAF providers to join the Voluntary Ofsted Register. The local authority has joined the Out of School Alliance and is offering a structured programme of support to providers. This approach brings several advantages, including enabling friends to attend clubs together, improving business sustainability beyond HAF funding, and allowing parents and carers to use Tax-Free Childcare.

We will broaden our offer of healthy lunches and refreshments by partnering with a diverse range of local establishments. This approach will ensure that young people have access to a wide variety of nutritious, appealing food options, all of which can be purchased using programme vouchers. In addition, we will increase the number of participating venues across Gateshead, making it even easier for young people to redeem their vouchers conveniently within their local communities.

As in previous years, the programme will continue to be shaped by the voices of young people. In early 2025, we hosted a consultation event at the Newcastle United Foundation, where young people shared valuable feedback on what they would like to see included in the HAF Plus Summer programme. This insight will directly inform the design and delivery of our four-week programme, ensuring that activities are relevant, engaging, and tailored to their interests and needs.

For 2026, we are planning an exciting and varied programme of activities designed to promote creativity, social interaction, and new skill development. These will include:

• Escape room experiences at the Metrocentre
• Board game social sessions
• Creative writing workshops at The Glasshouse
• Tennis coaching sessions
• Barista skills workshops
• Darts sessions
• A large-scale activity fun day at Northumbria University

This diverse programme will provide opportunities for young people to try new experiences, build confidence, and connect with others in a safe and supportive environment.