Council targets more support for holiday activities

Oldham Council has asked for support towards providing its winter HAF activities

Oldham Council is seeking additional help from local providers for its Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) programme this winter in a bid to support its efforts in providing free activities and nutritional meals for eligible children aged five to 16. 

The council insist its HAF programme has never provided a greater lifeline for families on free school meals as the cost-of-living crisis pushes more households into poverty.

Oldham’s next programme takes place between December 17 and January 2 and will help to ease many of the pressure’s that households usually face during the off-school period, including added childcare and food costs.

In addition to this, these sessions will provide children with a great opportunity to enjoy a variety of activities, meet new friends, taste new foods and learn more about healthy eating in a fun and interactive way which they can take home to their parents.

Councillor Eddie Moores, Cabinet Member for Children and Young People, said: “Every week we are seeing more and more residents being forced into poverty because of the effects the cost-of-living is having on their household budgets.

“That is why it is important our HAF programme continues to support as many eligible families as possible during this time, as people need our help now more than ever.

“Our local providers have already played a fantastic role in our HAF programme so far and they are vital to this effort.

“So, I encourage all local providers to come forward and to get involved with our programme as this work really makes a difference to local families.”

Since last summer, more than 14,000 children have engaged with Oldham’s HAF programme, the latest of which ran during the summer holidays.

The council has also worked with over 40 providers to put on a variety of sessions such as day trips to the Oldham Coliseum and Summit Up, a range of sports and athletics, arts and craft workshops and even cooking classes.

The council is seeking providers that can offer sessions lasting at least four hours, with all applicants welcome to offer multiple days, subject to meeting due diligence requirements.

The local authority is willing to offer further support to any provider that registers an interest, including a 'Meet the Funder' event this Thursday (October 6) at Gallery Oldham's Education Suite from 6-7pm, for those with additional questions.

Providers can raise their expressions of interest by visiting: www.actiontogether.org.uk/oldham-haf-programme-winter-expression-interest-2022 

Funding for Oldham Council's HAF programme lasts until at least March 2025.

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