By 
Children who get benefits-related free school meals can go to free holiday clubs, with a healthy lunch, in the Christmas, Easter and summer holidays. The scheme is called Holiday Activities and Food (HAF). In Warwickshire it’s run by the county council and funded by the Department for Education, with sessions run by local providers across Stratford-on-Avon District.
On this page
Christmas 2026: key dates
- Monday 23 November: Warwickshire’s winter HAF listings go live.
- Saturday 19 December: winter sessions start (Warwickshire schools break up on Friday 18 December).
We’ll add the Stratford and Alcester sessions here once the listings are published.
Who can go
The county council says HAF is for “young people who are in full-time education (Reception to Year 11) and eligible for benefits-related free school meals”. The activities and the meals are free.
If you think your child might be eligible for free school meals but isn’t registered, ask their school or apply through Warwickshire County Council.
How to find and book sessions
Warwickshire publishes its HAF sessions on the Search Out HAF page. Book as soon as the listings go live. For questions, email the county council’s HAF team at hafprogramme@warwickshire.gov.uk.
What sessions are like
Sessions vary by provider, and each includes a free meal. Last Christmas, Everyone Active ran sessions at Stratford Leisure Centre (Ninja Tag Active, an indoor obstacle course) and junior gym sessions at the Greig Leisure Centre in Alcester, with the district council.
More for families in the holidays
- Our things to do with kids guide has free and cheap ideas in Stratford, including the library’s free sessions.
- What’s on between Christmas and New Year: our Twixmas guide.
- Every event in town, day by day: the events calendar.
Alex Harrington
Alex Harrington grew up in Stratford-upon-Avon and runs What's up, Stratford? as an independent guide to the town.
