Holiday and Food (HAF) Project for Children

Kala The Arts works with Basingstoke Council to provide Holiday and Food projects, where we offer an array of activities over the school holidays for young people free to those in receipt of free school meals.

We have been successfully running the HAF multicultural club for five years, providing Summer Holiday provisions and workshops from an excellent professional team, where children learn skills and have a fun time. 

Summer 2025

This summer, we offered an exciting range of activities for school children aged 8–16 years.

HAF Sessions ran from Monday 4th August to Thursday 7th August, 9am–1pm
Location: The Vyne Community School, Basingstoke RG21 5PB

The programme was free for children who received benefit-related free school meals, or £35 per day including a hot meal. All dietary requirements were catered for, and the sessions were inclusive for all abilities.

Activities included:

  • African Drumming
  • Yoga
  • South Asian Bollywood Dance
  • Science
  • Grow Your Own Plant
  • Vocal Music
  • Food Preparation
  • Crafts
  • Jane Austen Visual Arts
  • Games
  • Storytelling through Contemporary Dance
  • Music
  • Drama
  • Creative Writing
HAF

The Feedback we received:

“Unique Summer Camp providing flavoursome activities, food for the soul, well done to the team”

“The supportive haf sessions helped him to develop as an SEN child”

“Myself and my child really enjoyed the classes. I like that what was provided was a detailed programme of what the children were doing and what they were eating. The time flew by without a trace and was interesting.”

“My child likes the food and I really like that the food was balanced and healthy”

“My son is very fussy with his food due to ASD and I’m very grateful that he was given extra foods he did like and I was always well informed of everything he had/hadn’t eaten by the staff.”

“He’s autistic but he came out calm and happy every day”

“I have seen how positively children have responded—such as Saskia, who was inspired while working with a chef during the cooking session—and hope more children from across Basingstoke can benefit.”

Lyn Schoe, parent of HAF child attendee

Six weeks of the year everyone from young children to teenagers take part in Kala HAF sessions, where they learn new skills and are given hot nutritious food cooked by excellent chefs. Movement is key to our sessions, covering yoga, dance, music, visual arts and food nutrition. We engage with many disadvantaged young people and families in the area. KTA is the only diversity HAF provider in North Hampshire.

To book a place for a young person, please use our contact page.

A group of children participate in a drumming workshop, each seated with a traditional drum in front of them.
A group of children engages in a fun and energetic movement activity in a spacious room. The instructor leads them as they interact and move around, fostering creativity and collaboration. Bright red chairs line the room, and a whiteboard with notes provides structure to the session. The children are actively participating, showcasing an environment of learning and expression.
A group of children participate in a drumming workshop, each seated with a traditional drum in front of them.
Children seated at desks in a classroom participating in an arts and crafts session, part of the Holiday and Food project.

Thank you

Your submission has been received successfully

Kala The Arts logo.

Follow us on social

©2025 - Website content copyright by Kala The Arts