Holidays Are Fun annual report 2025 to 2026

Family A

The Holidays Are Fun (HAF) team was made aware of a family experiencing significant bereavement due to the death of a parent. At the time, the children's father was not present, and the children had moved to live with a close family member at very short notice. The new carer took on this responsibility unexpectedly and was experiencing financial hardship as she adjusted to the new care arrangements. To support the family, the HAF team was able to provide pantomime tickets as part of the Christmas HAF offer, alongside a high-quality food and activity hamper. In addition, the family received clothing donations and household essentials that had been generously donated to support families in need. These items included clothes, pyjamas, coats, and Christmas gifts, which helped to significantly reduce the practical and emotional pressures facing the carer during an already challenging period.

The HAF team also provided Ninja Warrior vouchers remaining from the summer HAF programme, giving the children a positive activity to look forward to. A member of the HAF team maintained contact with the carer for a short period, during which the carer repeatedly expressed how valuable the support had been for the family. The carer highlighted that HAF had already played an important role while the children's mother was unwell, as it provided the children with a safe, structured, and enriching environment during the school holidays.

The availability of HAF provision enabled extended family members to focus on supporting the family during Mum's final months, whilst ensuring the children continued to have positive experiences at a time that was distressing for the family as a whole. It also helped to shield the children from some of the emotional impact associated with caring for a seriously unwell parent.

During a final visit, the children's carer became tearful as she expressed her gratitude for the ongoing support provided through the HAF programme, describing the local offer as a "saving grace." The opportunities available through HAF made a meaningful difference to the family during a very difficult time, allowing them to enjoy the festive period and remain connected to positive community activities. The family booked onto several HAF sessions and were able to attend family activities without the additional worry of cost. The carer also shared that she had been concerned about the children becoming socially isolated during the school holidays following their bereavement; however, continued engagement with HAF ensured they remained socially active and connected with their peers.

Family B

A carer contacted the HAF team to request a discretionary HAF place during the summer programme due to challenging family circumstances. The child is a former looked‑after child and is now cared for by their grandparents under a Special Guardianship Order. In order to meet the child's needs, the grandmother had reduced her working hours, which had a significant impact on the family's income. She shared how difficult it had become to manage financially and explained that she had been unable to secure suitable childcare locally. Following consideration of the circumstances, the HAF team approved access to a discretionary HAF place. The grandmother later fed back that this support had lifted a significant weight from her shoulders and provided much‑needed reassurance during a difficult period. After the holidays, she contacted the team again to share how much the child had enjoyed the activities and how positive the experience had been for the whole family.