Free Holiday Clubs for Local Kids During Half Term Holidays

Labour-run Merton is one of the only councils in London providing Free Holiday Clubs for local kids during half term holidays.

With the national Labour government recently announcing a £600million investment to extend existing HAF programmes for another three years, it’s fantastic to know that this scheme will continue to benefit the families who need them most in Merton for years to come. 

Over the summer, Cllr Kaweesa, Cabinet Member for Children’s Services, visited some of Merton’s Free Holiday Clubs to hear from the local children attending about what they thought of the programme: 

“It was great to visit some of Merton’s free holiday clubs for our children and young people. From coding and art, to table tennis, outdoor games and football tournaments, it was fantastic to see children laughing, learning and just enjoying themselves for free during the holidays. I am proud that Merton is a space where children from every corner of our diverse borough can try new things, build confidence and make memories. 

I was on free school meals growing up, and I remember how long the holidays could feel with little to do over the summer months. Activities and clubs like the Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) programme would have made a huge difference to me back then having somewhere to go and new things to try, without the financial burden on my family.  

A huge thank you to everyone who helps make the programme such a fun and inclusive space for local kids.” 
 
Merton is one of the only boroughs in London to still offer the HAF programme during the half term holidays – as well as over the summer, Christmas, and Easter breaks. We have been able to do this because of our careful management of council finances.

We know that to thrive, children don’t just need support sometimes - they need safe and joyful places to be themselves all year round. And as a Labour-run council, we are serious about investing in our children.