Dear Parent/Guardian,  

We hope you are well and that your child/ren is enjoying the summer term and the warm weather! 
 
Ahead of the summer holidays, we wanted to let you know about the brilliant new Holiday Activities and Food programme which is operating in your local area. We are helping to launch a new film to promote the programme so parents know that their children can get involved in a local holiday club when the school term ends this July. 
 
We know that the holidays can be a really difficult time for families who are struggling to make ends meet or who are juggling work and childcare. The holidays should be a time for every child to enjoy themselves rather than worrying about having enough to eat or how they can spend their free time.
 
That’s why we’re really excited about the summer holiday programmes that are being funded by the Government and will take place across the whole of England. This was recommended by the National Food Strategy when it was published last year. A petition supporting the recommendation was signed by over 1 million people.
       
Places on the holiday schemes are available for free to children who receive free school meals, but children and young people of all ages and backgrounds are welcome to attend. Each local programme will provide delicious, healthy meals, allow kids to get active, help them learn new things, make friends and have fun. And that is what the holidays are all about!  
 
You can find out more by watching this new film that we’ve made: https://youtu.be/KDgm8KpXAXE
 
The holiday programmes are open to children of any age and are free for children eligible for free school meals. They will: 

• Provide a safe and supportive environment for children 
• Be led by experienced local coordinators teaming up with a range of different partners in their communities 
• Serve children tasty and nutritious food and opportunities to learn  about food and nutrition 
• Organise lots of activities so every child can find something they enjoy - from Kung Fu and cooking to bushcraft. 
• Keep children and young people happy, healthy and active  
• Offer a flexible childcare option for busy parents 

You can find out exactly what’s available in your local area either by visiting your council’s website or by searching online for HAF (that stands for Holiday Activity and Food).
 
We hope you and your family have a great summer with the Holiday Activities and Food programme! 

Yours sincerely, 
Marcus Rashford MBE    
Henry Dimbleby MBE (Founder of Leon, Independent Lead of the National Food Strategy)