Rt Hon Bridget Phillipson 22nd August 2025
Secretary of State for Education
Re: Holiday Activities and Food Programme
Dear Bridget,
I am proud that this Labour Government is committed to tackling inequalities and
addressing child poverty across communities, including in Bracknell Forest. We are
expanding free school meals to thousands more children in my community, opening new
breakfast clubs, and cutting down costs for school uniforms. And we have continued
support for the Holiday Activities and Food Programme, in recognition that for families
most in need, the school holidays can be particularly challenging.
In Bracknell Forest, HAF funding has been used to deliver activities for children in
receipt of free school meals, ranging from theatre workshops to golf days. Bracknell
Forest Council have also provided tailored activities for children with SEND. Each of these
activities include a nutritious meal.
This week, I got the opportunity to see a HAF activity for myself, when I visited
Horseshoe Lake Activity Centre in Sandhurst. It was fantastic to see children from
disadvantaged backgrounds be given the opportunity to enjoy the sorts of activities they
would normally not be able to afford, all while being supported over the summer holidays
with healthy food.
I am writing to ask that the future of the HAF is secured as soon as possible, to give
local authorities like Bracknell Forest the time to develop a fantastic programme for next
year.
The Conservatives extended the HAF on a rolling yearly basis, which did not allow
local authorities to retain staff and develop long-term relationships with providers, so
can I also urge you to consider funding the programme for the length of this spending
review.
With best wishes,
Peter Swallow MP
Member of Parliament for Bracknell, Crowthorne, Sandhurst and Whitegrove
