The Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) programme is a really important offer for children and young people, giving them the chance to access activities, socialise and stay active during the summer and Easter holidays.
However, as great as this programme is, it only supports young people during those specific times of the year. This means that throughout other school holidays, many of the young people who benefit most from this provision can feel isolated and miss out on opportunities that others may take for granted.
That’s why organisations like Gather the Community are so important.
In February half term we visited one of the sessions they delivered in Newcastle-under-Lyme, where young people were able to take part in a range of activities including football, boxing, table tennis and group games. Across five days, 82 children and young people aged 9-15 attended from the local ST5 area.
The sessions were designed around what young people said they were interested in, encouraging them to try something new and build their confidence. The focus was on helping young people find ways of moving that they enjoy, in a space where they feel safe and supported.
“HAF is delivered in set periods, so supporting non HAF sessions is crucial to ensure children don’t miss out at other times of the year. By partnering with The Family Hub Newcastle-under-Lyme and Gather, we were able to deliver a range of activities at a time when children would normally be doing nothing. It was so great to see high engagement, and it has been fantastic to support work that clearly made a positive difference for so many children.”
Charlotte Barnard, CYP Development Officer, Together Active
Across the week, the organisation captured honest snapshots of feedback directly from the young people taking part, with young people describing the week as “loads of fun”, and others shared how much they enjoyed activities like boxing or football. One young person said they would have “just been sat at home” if the session wasn’t running. When asked what they would have been doing otherwise, most said things like being on their phones, gaming, or simply having nothing to do.
It really highlights why this work is so important. These sessions help reduce isolation, improve wellbeing, build confidence and give young people something positive to be part of. They also give them a break from screens and a chance to connect with others in their community.
At Together Active, we’re really proud to support this work, creating more opportunities for young people to feel included, valued and inspired.
In areas like Newcastle-under-Lyme, where opportunities can sometimes be limited, this kind of provision is essential. It helps make sure that all young people have access to activities and experiences that support their wellbeing, not just during the main holiday periods, but all year round.
From the brilliant feedback we’ve seen from this week alone, it’s clear that young people want more of this. More opportunities, more variety, and more spaces where they feel comfortable to take part. Organisations like Gather the Community are making that happen, and we’re really glad to be supporting them in doing so.
Charlotte Barnard continued, “Supporting this delivery has been really meaningful in my role in working to tackle inequalities for children and young people. Seeing high engagement and strong feedback shows the need for year-round provision. This session provided a safe, welcoming space for children and young people to be active, build confidence, and feel part of their community, particularly outside of traditional HAF periods, where they would normally be doing nothing.”
