New Government Funding To Boost Activities, Food Pledged To Support Children In UK

Supermarkets and sport groups in the United Kingdom are showcasing the valuable support they give to disadvantaged children and families in their communities, including through the government’s Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) programme.

Education Secretary Nadhim Zahawi who met with representatives from UK businesses and the Cost of Living Business chief, David Buttress, encouraged organisations to boost their support for the holiday scheme, which supported thousands of children last summer after it was expanded to run nationally.

The call to arms for more support comes as the government announced it will also increase the per-pupil funding rate for universal infant free school meals.

Approximately £18 million of new funding for universal infant free school meals will help schools provide for the 1.25 million children in reception, Year 1 and Year 2 with a free, healthy and nutritious lunch, in recognition of the rising cost of living.

The meeting celebrated the successes of the Holiday Activities and Food programme since its expansion in last year’s spending review and the way in which organisations are already providing community support and facilitating partnerships.

The roundtable discussion also covered wider possibilities for how costs for families can be reduced, including on school uniform.

New government statutory guidance published last year requires schools to make sure families get value for money on school uniform and PE kit, including by limiting branded items – which can be more expensive – and allowing families to buy most items from high street retail options, including from supermarkets.

Support from external organisations builds on Government investment in the Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) programme, which is backed by over £200 million each year to 2025, to support disadvantaged children in every area across the country in major school holidays.

Over 600,000 children attended HAF clubs last summer, benefitting from nutritious meals and enriching activities, which are targeted towards those who are eligible for free school meals.

The roundtable, chaired by the Education Secretary, included representatives from the Department for Education, Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs, and Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport.

Other attendees included the Government’s new Cost of Living Business head David Buttress, and representatives from Morrisons, Co-Op, the John Lewis Partnership (including Waitrose and John Lewis), M&S, the English Football League Trust, Daily Mile, Swim England, Dallaglio Rugby Works, Lawn Tennis Association, Sport England, StreetGames, and Football Association.

Schools will receive the uplifted universal infant free school meals funding, backdated to 1 April 2022 which is expected to raise the rate per meal to £2.41.