HAF Annual Report 2025/26

The HAF programme in 2025/26 has ensured that CYP attending HAF clubs have enjoyed a range of fun, enriching and physical activities. This keeps them engaged and active over the three holiday periods.

A large proportion of HAF club attendees return for later programmes. In addition to offering structured activities, HAF clubs give CYP opportunities to:

• try new things
• become more physically active
• learn new skills
• explore new foods
• make new friends

For parents and carers, the programme has provided childcare. This allows them to work or focus on their studies and helps reduce financial worries during school holidays.

The HAF programme has boosted Buckinghamshire’s local economy by:

1. funding local activity providers to deliver the clubs
2. supporting local food businesses that provide healthy meals for participants

Various organisations delivering HAF have shown growth in parallel with the programme. Some have transitioned from sole traders to registered businesses. Others have become Ofsted-registered and expanded their offer outside of HAF, becoming more sustainable.

Sustainability has also been a wider focus in 2025. The programme is:

expanding its reach

securing added value through partnerships

maintaining strong delivery despite increasing demand and cost pressures.

Across 2025, Buckinghamshire’s SEND offer has seen further growth of CYP with identified SEND accessing HAF across the three delivery periods. The majority of these are accessing ‘mainstream’ provision. This was due to the work of our ‘mainstream’ providers making the effort to become as inclusive as possible.

• 134% increase in the number of SEND places offered since 2022/23.
• 4,027 individual CYP accessed HAF across 2025/26, with 1,123 of them having some form of SEND.
• Increase in the number of HAF club locations from an average of 58 in 2024/25 to 65 in 2025/26.
• Additional family events, presenting opportunities for families to experience HAF together and build cultural capital at locations such as:
  • Tring Museum
  • Whipsnade Zoo
  • Roald Dahl Museum
  • Buckinghamshire Railway Centre
  • Wycombe Leisure Centre
  • Hughdenden Manor
• Increase in the total number of places attended by eligible CYP to 23,548.
• 3 Christmas family pantomime and meal events, coordinated in collaboration with Action 4 Youth.

Additionally to the above:

• 25 Period Packs were distributed to 25 venues in Buckinghamshire for children aged 10+. 2,650 Oral Health Kits were distributed to 38 locations. This created an opportunity for wider impact outside of HAF delivery.
• Balanceability sessions were delivered to 300 children aged 4 to 7 across 18 locations, teaching them the basics of riding a bike.
• Additional enriching activities funded by the HAF programme have allowed CYP to experience out-of-the-ordinary activities. This includes:
  • a roaming farm
  • beatbox workshops
  • a gaming bus
  • magic workshops
  • Zorb activities
• 1,600 ‘Eat the Rainbow’ resource packs funded by Buckinghamshire Council’s Public Health team were distributed across 26 locations.
• 32 overnight camping stays for families of those with SEND.