The UK government has announced a £1.6 million support fund to prioritize food provision for children, addressing holiday hunger and cost-of-living challenges. The funding extends the Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) programme, which provides healthy meals, enriching activities, and childcare to low-income families during school holidays. Since its inception in 2018, HAF has expanded nationwide, benefiting millions of children annually. The initiative targets children eligible for free school meals but also allows local authorities to allocate up to 15% of their funding to other vulnerable children.

The programme has proven effective in bridging the holiday experience gap for disadvantaged children, who are more likely to face poor nutrition, physical inactivity, and social isolation during breaks. Research highlights that free holiday clubs offering consistent enrichment activities and healthy meals positively impact children's wellbeing. The HAF programme’s success is bolstered by partnerships with supermarkets and sports organizations, which enhance its reach and effectiveness.

Additionally, the Household Support Fund has been extended to March 2025, providing vital assistance to families struggling with rising living costs. London boroughs have utilized this fund to deliver meals to thousands of children during holidays and offer emergency food support to families. The fund also helps cover essentials like heating bills and school uniforms. Such initiatives underscore the government’s commitment to mitigating financial hardship among vulnerable households.

Despite these efforts, MPs have called for a statutory duty on councils to ensure long-term stability for programmes like HAF. Short-term funding cycles create uncertainty for providers and risk leaving children without essential support. Advocates stress the importance of integrating HAF into a broader nutritional safety net to secure consistent aid for disadvantaged children across the UK.