Holiday Activities and Food Programme (HAF)
The programme is open to school-aged children from Reception to Year 11 who are eligible for benefits-related Free School Meals (FSM) and who live in, or attend a school within, Hampshire County Council’s area.
This includes areas served by Hampshire County Council only and does not currently include the unitary authorities of Portsmouth or Southampton, which operate their own HAF programmes.
We are currently working with Southampton City Council and hope to confirm HAF-funded provision in Southampton soon. Updates will be shared on our website once funding and booking arrangements are confirmed.
GoSport Activity Centre are providing spaces for 2026
If you are already eligible for the HAF programme then get in touch with us to book your space. To find out more about what we offer click below. If you are not sure whether eligible or not please see the relevant information below.
How to book?
-
Book directly on the eequ website and this will automatically check your HAF eligibility before booking.
Who is eligible?
Those who are eligible for free school meals can access the HAF Programme
A child may be eligible for a HAF-funded place if they are school-aged (Reception to Year 11) and eligible for benefits-related Free School Meals (FSM).
Children are usually eligible for benefits-related Free School Meals if their parent or carer receives one or more of the following:
​
-
Income Support
-
Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)
-
Income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
-
Support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
-
The guaranteed element of State Pension Credit
-
Child Tax Credit (provided you are not also entitled to Working Tax Credit and your annual gross income is £16,190 or less)
-
Working Tax Credit run-on (paid for four weeks after you stop qualifying for Working Tax Credit)
-
Universal Credit, where annual net earned income is £7,400 or less, assessed over up to three recent assessment periods
Please note: From September 2026, all children in households receiving Universal Credit will be entitled to Free School Meals. However, eligibility for the Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) programme will continue to be based on the existing benefits-related (targeted) Free School Meals criteria, including the £7,400 earnings threshold for Universal Credit households.
Eligibility is set nationally and checked and confirmed by the local authority as part of the booking process.
Please note that HAF eligibility is based on current benefits-related FSM criteria for the 2026–27 programme year.
Eligible for free school meals and want to benefit from HAF?
From summer 2026, HAF schemes are booked via a centralised booking system – instead of booking directly with each provider, all bookings will now be made through the Eequ online platform. As part of the booking process, you will be asked to provide information about your child, including any medical or additional needs, to help providers offer the best possible support.
Follow the guidance and links to access the HAF programme funding and free spaces at our camps.
What am I eligible for?
Follow the guidance and links to access the HAF programme funding and free spaces at our camps.
Eligible children can access free holiday activity sessions during selected school holidays, which include at least one healthy meal per day that meets the National School Food Standards. Our HAF programmes are inclusive and welcoming, with reasonable adjustments available to support children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) where appropriate, and families are encouraged to share any support needs at the point of booking. All sessions are delivered in a safe, supportive environment by experienced, DBS-checked and first-aid trained staff, in line with local authority requirements and national HAF safeguarding and quality standards.
​
We do have a small selection of funding for discretionary places e.g. EHCP. However, this funding is limited and is on a first come, first served basis.