Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) Programme

Find out more about your eligibility here

Newcastle’s Best Holiday Ever is a fun holiday programme for children and young people who are eligible for benefits-related free school meals, as well as families who may need some extra support.

The programme runs during the Easter, Summer and Christmas school holidays and offers a wide range of exciting activities across Newcastle. Children and young people can enjoy being active, trying new things, making friends and having fun, while receiving a healthy meal as part of the programme.

As part of the national Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) programme, Newcastle’s Best Holiday Ever has been supporting families since 2019. We're delighted to continue bringing these opportunities to children and young people across the city.

Use the postcode search bar to find activities near you, or explore the options below to see what's on in your area.

School holidays are a great opportunity for children and young people to have fun, stay active, try new things and spend time with friends. Taking part in enjoyable activities can help build confidence, support wellbeing and create happy memories for the whole family.

There’s something for everyone, with a wide range of activities including arts and crafts, sports, dance, cookery, games, nature activities, health and wellbeing sessions, outdoor adventures and much more. Activities take place across the city during the Easter, Summer and Winter school holidays.

We update our activity programme before each holiday period, so be sure to check back for the latest information. If you need help with a booking, please contact the activity provider directly.

We’re proud of everything Newcastle has to offer and want families to make the most of the fantastic opportunities available in their local communities. Whether you're discovering a new park, learning a new skill or enjoying an activity together, there are lots of ways to make your school holidays special.

We love seeing families enjoying their Newcastle’s Best Holiday Ever activities. Share your photos and experiences with us on social media using #HAF2026 and #NewcastlesBestHolidayEver.

Click here to see a list of organisations in the city

Supporting additional children

The core purpose of the programme is to support disadvantaged children and young people from low-income families who are eligible for benefits-related free school meals.

The local authority has the discretion to use up to 15% of its HAF funding to offer free or subsidised places to school‑age children who are not eligible for free school meals, but who may still benefit from the programme.

This may include, for example:

children with special educational needs and/or disabilities who are not eligible for free school meals
children with an EHC plan (education, health and care)
children assessed by the local authority as being in need, at risk or vulnerable
young carers
looked-after children, previously looked after children and unaccompanied asylum-seeking children
children and families living in temporary accommodation
children who have low attendance rates at school or who are at risk of exclusion

This list is not exhaustive; we will commission providers to run holiday clubs for targeted groups.