Children and families get cinema treat as part of our HAF programme
Tuesday, 8 August 2023
We organised a free cinema day at the Grove Theatre in Dunstable on Friday (4 August) as part of our Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) programme.
Families were invited to enjoy a day of movies; they were treated to screenings of The Little Mermaid and Super Mario Bros. Around 130 children and their parents and carers attended, and between films were able to help themselves to a free buffet lunch.
The HAF programme provides fun, free activities for children eligible for benefit-related free school meals – a requirement of the Department for Education who fund the programme. It’s designed for children and young people from Reception through to Year 11.
Louise from Leighton Buzzard, who attended with her 8-year-old son, said:
I think the HAF programme is amazing and we really appreciate it. We first went to a HAF event back in April and the cinema day is the second we’ve attended. It gets children out of the house and you can do fun things with them without having to worry about the cost. My son has got additional needs and it’s great that I can take him along to things like this and feel welcome. He’s made to feel included and that’s really important to us.
Jenson, 9, gave the cinema day a thumbs up and his mum said:
He’s been signed up to a few activities and really enjoyed them. I work in a school and I’m a single mum so I wouldn’t have been able to do things like this, without the programme.
Staff from our children’s centres also attended the cinema day and were available for families to access advice and support.
This summer, children can enjoy a variety of activities including multi-activity clubs, craft activities, dance and sports, fun-filled days out and coding and web bootcamps. Children who attend face-to-face activities also get a free, healthy lunch and snacks.
Councillor Hayley Whitaker, Executive Member for Families, Education and Children, said:
It’s fantastic to hear about the impact of the HAF programme on Central Bedfordshire families. We’re pleased to be able to continue to offer the HAF programme, ensuring children have a fun summer holiday. We’re really grateful to all the providers who work so hard during the holidays to provide such positive experiences for children.