Increased demand for half term support for families in Coventry
Coventry's Holidays Activities and Food campaign is kick starting again as the Easter half term begins today
We're hearing that families in Coventry are demanding support during half term now more than ever.
The Coventry Holidays Activities and Food Programme (HAF) enables eligible children to attend free activities and experiences with free nutritional food provided.
Childcare during term time is increasing year on year in Coventry, around 7,000 children have been supported over the past three years by the HAF initiative.
Cllr Kindy Sandhu is the Cabinet Member for Education and Skills for Coventry City Council, she says the programme is vital for multiple families across the city.
Cllr Sandhu said: "The campaign is for children and young people who get free school meals to make sure that provision is there for them during the summer, Easter and winter breaks.
"Children and young people can sign up for an activity and they get a meal as well which can help to alleviate hunger of children and young people in our city during the holidays."
Cllr Sandhu continues to share why there has been an increased demand for the HAF services in Coventry,
Cllr Sandhu said: "In the summer of 2024, we supported 288 families and that's grown from the previous winter where we supported 221 families.
"In only the period of six months the numbers grow, so we can see that demand.
"Demand is increasing and it's not surprising given the kind of cost of living crisis that that people are experiencing.
"People are are experiencing hardship and this is one way of alleviating that hardship for some of the most vulnerable people and families in in our city."