Reading Borough Council is trialling a four-day pilot offering free activities and meals for children during the February half-term. The program will run from 16 to 19 February 2026 and is aimed at families who rely on school meals during term time.
The trial is open to young people aged 7 to 18 who are eligible for benefits‑related free school meals (pupil premium/free school meal eligible pupils). Families must pre-book places for creative workshops and physical activities via the Brighter Futures for Children (BFfC) HAF portal. Brighter Futures for Children is now operating as part of Reading Borough Council after being brought back in‑house in 2025.
The pilot expands local support beyond the national HAF-funded periods (Easter, summer and Christmas). The sessions are being funded using council Household Support Fund allocations alongside Department for Education-approved underspends from the 2025/26 HAF budget to help households with the cost of living and childcare during the shorter half-term.
Activities will run from multiple hubs across Reading, including sites such as Whitley (and other local hubs including Dee Park and central Reading). The move to deliver the trial under council management follows Reading’s decision in 2025 to reintegrate BFfC into council control, a change the council says will help it respond more quickly to local needs.
Places are limited and allocated on a first-come, first-served basis, so families are encouraged to register early. Each session will include a nutritious meal; providers will aim to offer hot meals where possible in line with HAF guidance.
For full booking information and eligibility details see the Brighter Futures for Children HAF pages and Reading Borough Council announcements.
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