During the school holidays, families are being forced to choose which bills to delay paying, what activities their children have to miss out on, or whether they need to rely on food banks to get by.
The government can fix this by:
-
Aligning eligibility for the Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) Programme with the expanded Free School Meals criteria from September 2026 to ensure children who most need support aren't left hungry come the school holidays.
-
Investing in safe, everyday spaces for teenagers and young people so all children can access free and affordable places to build community all year round.
-
Improving HAF guidance and requirements to ensure provision for secondary age children so that teenagers aren't left behind.