The HAF Alliance is launching the #HolidaysMatter campaign to highlight the benefits of holiday activities and secure continued support from policymakers and partners. The campaign calls for ongoing holiday provision, policy backing, funding, and partnerships to expand its reach and impact.
With over four million children growing up in low-income families, holiday activities in underserved communities are essential for bridging the widening inequalities gap. These programmes provide healthy, active, and fulfilling activities during school holidays, ensuring children have access to enriching experiences they might otherwise miss out on.
Holiday activities offer vital multi-sport opportunities, increasing children’s engagement in physical activity and supporting their overall development. Additionally, these programmes help mitigate learning loss, ensuring children return to school with a positive mindset and better educational outcomes.
Investing in the Voluntary, Community, and Social Enterprise (VCSE) sector is crucial. These organisations provide safe spaces and access to trusted adults during holidays, creating a robust support system for young people.
Through the provision of fun physical activities and nutritious meals, holiday activities address the key challenges of food insecurity, social isolation, and inactivity faced by families living underserved communities, supporting the physical and mental wellbeing of children and young people.
For more information on the #HolidaysMatter campaign and how you can get involved, please visit the HAF Alliance website – www.hafalliance.org