Glass ‘HAF’ Full
This week, the welcome expansion of free school meals begins, but the glass is still ‘HAF’ full for support in the school holidays. As schools return from the summer break, over half a million more children, living in households who receive Universal Credit, will become eligible for a free school meal.* This is a really important and welcome change for which The Children’s Society has been campaigning for over 10 years.
The school holiday struggle
The school holiday struggle
The expansion of Free School Meals is great news for term time. Providing more children with a nutritious meal every day at school not only supports young people with their learning and wellbeing, but it also helps provide vital breathing space for many families with low incomes who are struggling to make ends meet.
But what about during the school holidays?
School holiday struggles
When schools close, children can be left without vital support they rely on in term time, and funding cuts mean there’s a lack of free activities and safe spaces for young people to hang out and build community.
Our recent research into the hidden costs of the school holidays highlights how – particularly for young people from low-income families – the school holidays, instead of being a positive break for children, are a time of worry and isolation.
I find it difficult [in the school holidays] to find things to do that don’t cost money.
Access to activities, a nutritious meal, and time to connect with friends and family are not luxuries; they are essential to children’s wellbeing, confidence, and development.
YP quote
As soon as you leave the school gates on the last day of term, you just know that you’re like walking into nothing for either two weeks or six weeks.
The role of HAF
Last year, The Children’s Society welcomed the announcement that the Government were providing another three years’ funding to the Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) Programme.
We know HAF plays an important role in ensuring that children most in need can access a healthy meal and enriching activities during the school holidays.
I am such a big supporter of the HAF Programme and stuff like that, because it genuinely does, even if it is just for a few weeks, completely change your summer and you’ve actually got something fun to talk about when you get back.
- Young Person, January 2026
Whilst HAF has clear benefits for both families and young people, it still needs to reach more children.
Families left behind
Families left behind
Until now, all children eligible for income-related Free School Meals in England have also been eligible for HAF. But from today that will not be the case – leaving around 1.2 million children missing out on support for weeks at a time.
We know that families benefiting from the free school meal expansion also need support during the holidays.
Families missing out
Our research found that the school holidays are a time when most families are struggling, not just families who can access HAF:
- Over half of parents (57%) find the school holidays financially stressful.
- 41% of parents lack confidence in affording the next school holiday.
And families receiving Universal Credit are struggling even more, with 53% of these parents not confident they can afford the next school holiday.
Not only are those on the lowest incomes facing greater challenges in the school holidays, but they’re also taking more serious steps to try and overcome them. For instance, parents receiving Universal Credit were less likely to report using savings than those not receiving Universal Credit, and more likely to report skipping meals themselves.
Our call for change
Unless the Government acts, the additional children who become eligible for Free School Meals from today will be missing out on vital support come the school holidays.
That’s why we are campaigning for HAF to be expanded to all children who have become eligible for income-related free school meals from September 2026.
You can help us to make this change a reality. Will you join us?
Send your MP a postcard – our handy tool will also tell your MP how many children will be missing out on holiday support in your local area.
P.S If your child is missing out on HAF support we’d love to hear from you. Get in touch at campaigns@childrenssociety.org.uk
*If you live in England, you can check if your child qualifies for free school meals here.
There is a different process to apply for free school meals in Northern Ireland, free school meals in Scotland, or free school meals in Wales.
