Hampshire County Council has secured £3.6 million for 2026 as part of a Department for Education three‑year settlement that guarantees Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) funding through 2028. The national commitment supports children who are eligible for benefits‑related free school meals by funding free holiday clubs and meals across the county.
For the first time, the programme will operate during the upcoming February half‑term (Monday 16 to Friday 20 February 2026), expanding support beyond the traditional Easter, summer and Christmas breaks.
Hampshire County Council confirmed it has received £3.6 million for 2026, the first year of the three‑year funding settlement. That funding underwrites an extensive network of 77 contracted providers offering activities such as sports, arts and nature sessions, allowing local groups to plan further ahead.
In Fleet, KOOSA Kids is listed as a HAF provider at Court Moor School; families should check the Hampshire HAF portal or the KOOSA listing to confirm availability and booking details for February sessions.
Providers are required to supply a healthy, hot meal free of charge each day of HAF sessions alongside activities.
Councillor Roz Chadd, Executive Lead Member for Children’s Services, said the three years of certainty would be invaluable for families and providers and would help make sure no child goes hungry during school breaks.
The programme is aimed primarily at children who are eligible for benefits‑related free school meals. Hampshire also operates a 15% discretionary allocation, which allows schools to refer other families in financial crisis or facing high local living costs for a place at HAF schemes.
Parents can register for February sessions and future holidays via the Hampshire HAF registration page. The council’s official school holiday calendar lists the spring half‑term as 16–20 February 2026. The expansion aims to help parents manage childcare and food costs during a time of year that can be expensive for many households.
About this article: This story was put together with the help of AI tools and checked by a real person on our team. We're a small crew trying to cover as much of the UK as we can on a limited budget. We're getting better every day - but we're not perfect yet. If something looks off, let us know. You're part of the process.
