🌞 Holiday Activities & Food

Free activities
all summer long.

The HAF programme gives children and young people eligible for free school meals access to free, fun holiday activities — and a healthy meal. Based at Crabtree Hall in Fordbridge.

Check eligibility Register interest
FREE
activities + food for eligible children
Ages 5–16 Fordbridge Hot meals included School holidays No cost to families

What is HAF?

Holiday fun.
No strings attached.

The Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) programme is funded by the Department for Education and delivered by Solihull Council. It provides free, enriching holiday activities and nutritious meals to school-aged children who receive free school meals.

Urban Heard runs HAF sessions at Crabtree Hall, our youth hub in Fordbridge and Chelmsley Wood — giving local children access to brilliant activities close to home.

Each session includes a hot meal, activities, and time to make new friends in a safe, welcoming environment.

4
School holiday
programmes per year
5–16
Age range
welcome
FREE
No cost to
your family
🍽
Hot meal
every session

Eligibility

Is your child eligible?

Answer a couple of quick questions to find out if your child can access the HAF programme for free.

Quick eligibility check
This is a guide only — get in touch to confirm your child's eligibility.

What's included

Something for every young person.

Our HAF sessions mix food, fun and learning across a range of activities — all led by our experienced youth workers at Crabtree Hall.

🎧
DJ Workshops
Learn to mix, produce and create in our dedicated DJ studio. No experience needed.
Ages 10–16
🏆
Sports & Games
Football, basketball, dodgeball, table tennis — active sessions led by qualified coaches.
Ages 5–16
🎨
Arts & Crafts
Creative sessions exploring visual art, design and self-expression in a relaxed space.
Ages 5–16
🗣️
Youth Voice
Group discussions, debate and leadership activities — your opinion matters here.
Ages 11–16
🍽️
Hot Meal Every Day
Freshly prepared, nutritious hot meals included with every HAF session. No exceptions.
All ages
🚌
Trips & Outings
Day trips and local outings during longer holiday programmes — at no extra cost.
Ages 8–16
💬
Wellbeing Chats
One-to-one time with a youth worker if young people want to talk through anything.
All ages
🎮
Gaming & Tech
Games sessions including coding basics, digital creativity and gaming challenges.
Ages 8–16

Common questions

FAQs

How do I know if my child gets Free School Meals?
Your child's school should be able to confirm this. Alternatively, you can check with Solihull Council's family support team. If you're unsure, get in touch and we'll help you find out.
Do I need to pay anything?
No. HAF sessions at Crabtree Hall are completely free for eligible children. Activities and hot meals are all included. There is never any hidden cost.
How do I book a space?
Contact us by email at info@urbanheard.org.uk or visit us at Crabtree Hall. Spaces can fill quickly so we recommend registering interest early for each holiday period.
My child has additional needs. Can they still attend?
Yes — our sessions are designed to be inclusive. Please let us know about any additional needs when you register so we can make sure we have the right support in place. Get in touch to discuss before booking.
What holidays does HAF cover?
HAF typically covers the Easter, summer and Christmas school holidays, plus an additional period. Solihull Council allocates funding each year. Sign up to our mailing list or follow us to be notified when sessions open for booking.
My child is not FSM eligible. Can they still come?
HAF sessions are specifically funded for FSM-eligible children. However, we run a wide range of other sessions and drop-in programmes at Crabtree Hall that are open to all young people. See what's on →
Is there a safeguarding policy?
Yes. Urban Heard takes the safety of all young people very seriously. All staff and volunteers have enhanced DBS checks and are trained in safeguarding. Read our safeguarding policy →

Ready to book?

Secure your child's place online

Our online booking system takes around 5 minutes. You'll get instant email confirmation and we'll be in touch before the programme starts.

Book a HAF place →
🔒 Secure & private 📧 Instant confirmation ✅ Free to book
📧 info@urbanheard.org.uk 📍 Crabtree Hall, 34 Crabtree Dr, Fordbridge B37 5BU 🛡️ All staff DBS checked