Holiday activities and food programme

The Holiday activities and food (HAF) programme provides free holiday club sessions. They are for school aged children (from Reception to Year 11) who get income-assessed/benefits–related free school meals. The programme is funded by the Department for Education.

What do the holiday clubs offer?

The free holiday clubs offer many activities during the Easter, summer, and winter school holidays. These include sports, dance, drama, songwriting and trips.

Children also receive a nutritious meal whilst at the club.

Unique child HAF codes

Following updated Department of Education guidance, HAF codes were introduced in Summer 2024. Parents and carers will need their child's unique HAF code to book holiday activities. 

All recently approved income-assessed free school meal children will receive a unique HAF code by letter from us before Christmas. These letters will be posted on or before Friday 29 November 2024.

Children who received their letter ahead of summer 2024 are already in receipt of their unique HAF code. However, should you need to retrieve this, please go to If you have lost your unique child HAF Code on this page.

To receive a HAF code you must receive benefits-related/income-assessed free school meals. This is different to universal free school meals that all children in Key Stage 1 (Reception to Year 2) receive.

When can you book a place for your child?

You can book holiday activities on the HAF programme from 6 December at 3pm.

How to book a place for your child

You can book Holiday Activities with Food online or directly by phone, text, email with an activity provider. To do so you will need your child’s unique HAF code.

Visit the Sheffield Healthy Holidays website for more information including how to book.

Income-assessed and benefits-related free school meals

If you do not currently get benefits-related free school meals, you can apply online. The process is quick and easy. If you are eligible you will be issued a HAF code by letter.

If you have lost your unique child HAF Code

If you require your child's unique HAF Code, please complete this form.

Alternatively you can email hafprogramme@sheffield.gov.uk to request your code. 

We will do our best to respond within one working day up to 23 December. 

Please note, that between 24 December 2024 and 1 January 2025, we will only be able to respond to HAF code requests via the form above. We will endeavour to respond to all requests within one working day. 

Should you require any more information please contact us.

Christmas Opening Hours: 

Our usual telephone hours are 9.30am to 4pm.

Please note, our telephone line will be closed from 23 December 2024 to 2 January 2025.

Should you need to contact a HAF club, contact information for HAF club providers can be found on our website www.sheffieldhealthyholidays.org under the timetables section or on the iPal booking system.