Congratulations to all our winners and highly commended providers, please see below for full list:

Healthy Eating Champion Award

Recognising providers who place food education, wholesome mealtime experiences and healthy eating at the heart of their programme, helping children develop knowledge, skills and confidence to make healthier choices.

• Highly commended: Happy Hawks Childcare & Happy Holidays
• Winner: Riverschool

Outstanding Activity Award

Celebrating providers delivering exceptional enrichment activities that inspire children, build confidence, encourage participation and create memorable holiday experiences and positive outcomes.

Independent provider

• Highly commended: FISH Kids & Skern Adventure
• Winner: Happy Hawks Childcare

Multi-setting provider

• Highly commended: Sporty Stars (Exeter and East) & Primary Sports and Education
• Winner: Exeter City Community Trust

Innovation Award

Recognising providers who introduce fresh ideas, creative delivery methods or new partnerships that improve engagement, access and outcomes for children and families.

• Highly commended: Haven Banks & Little Farmers’ Fun & Food
• Winner: Hydro Hub (FISH Leisure)

Inclusion Champion Award

Recognising providers who remove barriers to participation and create welcoming, supportive and accessible environments where every child can, not only have their needs met, but fully thrive and belong.

Universal provision:

• Highly commended: Hydro Hub (FISH Leisure) & Mrs Snuggles
• Winner: Happy Holidays

Specialist provision

• Highly commended: Nurture in Nature & SMART Swim Centre
• Winner: Apple Tree Farm

Partnership Excellence & Community Impact Award

Celebrating providers whose partnerships strengthen communities, support families and maximise the reach and impact of HAF through collaboration and local connections.

• Highly commended: Exeter City Community Trust & Be Buckfastleigh
• Winner: Shear Soccer

Parent Choice HAF Provider of the Year

Determined entirely by families, recognising providers who consistently deliver outstanding experiences, communication and organisation while making children excited to return.

Independent provider

• Highly commended: Happy Holidays & Kingskerswell CofE Primary
• Winner: Happy Hawks Childcare

Multi-setting provider

• Highly commended: Shear Soccer & Exeter City Community Trust
• Winner: Sporting Steps

Devon HAF Hero Award – Individual award

Recognising an individual whose passion, dedication and commitment have made an exceptional difference to children, families and colleagues through HAF delivery.

• Highly commended: Jack Drew Cull (Football Fun Factory) & Nicki Hartry (FISH Kids)
• Winner: Millie Twigg (Sporty Stars)

Devon HAF Film of the Year

Celebrating the power of storytelling through film, showcasing the voices, experiences and achievements of children participating in Devon HAF programmes.

• Highly commended: Happy Hawks Childcare & Exeter City Community Trust
• Winner: Riverschool

Devon HAF Excellence Award

The highest honour of the evening, recognising providers who demonstrate exceptional quality, impact and leadership across every aspect of HAF delivery.

Independent provider

• Winner: Happy Hawks Childcare

Multi-location provider

• Winner: Exeter City Community Trust

HAF Hero – Jack Drew Cull (Football fun Factory)

At just 21 years old, Jack demonstrates exceptional professionalism, care, kindness, passion and enthusiasm in everything he does. This summer, Jack played a key role in delivering our Football Fun Camps across Exeter, welcoming between 50 and 65 children every day.

Jack created a camp environment where every child feels welcomed, valued and included. Alongside a fantastic coaching team, he delivered action-packed days filled with fun football games, activities, arts and crafts, and our Re-Charge Zone. However, Jack’s care and commitment to the children truly make him stand out.

We have received amazing feedback from parents, particularly praising Jack for how he welcomes, supports and encourages every child. He has shown a wonderful understanding of children who may be nervous, anxious or have SEN, taking the time to ensure they feel comfortable, included and able to enjoy the experience.

Jack consistently goes above and beyond to ensure every child has a positive experience, and his enthusiasm is infectious. He is an outstanding role model for both the children and the wider coaching team.

I cannot praise Jack enough for the effort, dedication and heart he has shown this summer. He has demonstrated maturity and leadership well beyond his years and is a truly deserving HAF Hero.

HAF Hero – Nicki Hartry (FISH Leisure)

Nicki is the caretaker at Two Moors Primary School and has dedicated an incredible 29 years to supporting the school and its community.

Since we have been running the HAF at Two Moors School, Nicki has always gone above and beyond to make sure children have the opportunities they deserve. This has been particularly evident in her support for our HAF programme and the swimming sessions we deliver at Two Moors.

Nicki has worked tirelessly to overcome some of the barriers that have been put in place which could have prevented children from accessing the swimming pool. Rather than accepting these challenges, she has continued to find ways to make things work and ensure the pool can be used safely and effectively by the children attending our holiday club.

During the holidays, Nicki arrives early to prepare the site, set everything up and make sure the facilities are safe, clean and ready for the children and our team. Her support happens behind the scenes, but it makes a huge difference.

Without Nicki’s dedication, commitment and willingness to help, we simply would not be able to run our swimming sessions at Two Moors. Her contribution allows children who may otherwise have limited opportunities to access swimming, learn valuable water skills and enjoy a safe and positive experience during the school holidays.

After 29 years of service to the school, Nicki continues to show the same commitment and care for the children and families in the local community. She is a fantastic example of someone who quietly goes above and beyond to remove barriers, make opportunities possible and ensure children can benefit from the HAF programme.

For all of these reasons, we are incredibly proud to nominate Nicki as our Devon HAF Hero.

HAF Hero Winner – Millie Twigg, Sporty Stars St Peters Camp

Millie has an amazing ability to make every child feel like they belong. For some children, arriving at HAF can feel daunting. They may not know anyone, feel nervous about joining in or be unsure of what to expect. Within minutes, Millie can make that child feel welcome, comfortable and excited for the day ahead.

She takes the time to get to know the children, encourages them to join in and makes sure nobody feels left out. Whether she is helping a child make a new friend, encouraging them to try an activity they are nervous about, celebrating something they have achieved or simply making them laugh, Millie helps create an environment where children can relax, be themselves and have fun.

Her enthusiasm is infectious. She is constantly thinking of new games and activities, adapting sessions around the children, and finding ways to keep everyone engaged. She notices the quieter children just as much as the confident ones and makes a genuine effort to ensure everyone gets the same opportunity to enjoy their HAF experience.

For many children, HAF is about much more than staying active during the holidays. It provides friendship, routine, new experiences, and a place where they feel included. Millie embodies everything that HAF should represent.

The smiles, confidence and excitement we see from the children around Millie demonstrate the impact she has made, and we couldn’t be prouder to nominate her as our HAF Hero.

To access the programme, please book a place by using the EEQU booking system. You will receive an email confirmation.

Have a look at the quick guide on how to book a HAF session.

Please note that the HAF programme covers the holiday periods of a maximum of four days at spring, 16 days in the summer and four days at winter – it does not run in half-term holidays.

The Department for Education (DfE) funded holiday activities and food (HAF) programme for this year aims to support children, young people and families eligible for HAF to:

• eat more healthily over the school holidays and try new foods
• be more active during the school holidays
• take part in engaging and enriching activities which support the development of resilience, character and wellbeing along with their wider educational attainment
• be safe and not so socially isolated
• have a greater knowledge of health and nutrition
• be more engaged with school and other local services
• be able to develop their understanding of nutrition and food budgeting
• be signposted towards other information and support, for example, health, employment and education

Further detail about what the HAF programme is and why it was created. Information for parents and carers about the HAF programme is set out below.

Places will be prioritised for school aged children and young people from reception to year 11 (inclusive) who are receiving benefit-related free school meals, and their families.

Please note this is not for children on universal free school meals.

You can apply for benefit-related free school meals online through your Citizen’s portal.

You will need to make an application to the free school meals team to check your eligibility.

If you are not eligible then you may be able to access an extended criteria place.

Parents and carers will be aware that we have been running the Department for Education (DfE) Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) programme for a number of years in Devon.

The programme is continuing for the next three years and will cover the Spring, Summer and Winter holidays for 2026/7, 2027/8 and 2028/9. It’s fully funded by the DfE, and they set the criteria for those attending and the aims of the programme.

Nationally, the aim is to provide activities, including a nutritional meal, during the school holidays to young people, aged five to 16 who are eligible for benefit-related free school meals (FSM).

That means, it’s a condition of their funding that places are allocated to children and young people who are eligible for FSM first. Beyond that, we have taken a decision locally to use an extended criteria.

We are very happy for places to be given to children and young people who meet the extended criteria, but in the first instance, we have to prioritise the allocation of places to those who are eligible for benefit-related FSM.

If your child is not eligible for benefits-related FSMs, you may be able to access an extended criteria place. In Devon, our extended criteria places are prioritised for the following children:

• Looked-after.
• Previously looked after.
• Children with EHCP.
• Young carers.

Please note the number of these places are limited. HAF providers will hold a waiting list for extended criteria places and will not be able to confirm a place until a week before the Holiday period. Priority must be given to the benefit-related free school meal children.

If you are a parent or carer of a child who meets the extended criteria, please book with your chosen provider via the EEQU Booking System.

Additionally, not all activity providers will be able to accommodate the full age range of the programme. Please check with the booking system for the age range available.

A number of HAF providers have registered with Ofsted and will offer paid-for places as well as HAF-funded places. See what government help is available to pay for childcare.

If your child requires assistance for the activity, you can clarify this on the booking system when you register. The parent or carer may be welcome to attend or the activity provider may offer extra support for your child.

The providers on offer include those experienced in working with children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) and are therefore appropriately trained to support children with a disability or additional needs.

Although HAF sessions are free to eligible families, if your child/ren does not turn up, it means that other eligible children missing out on their opportunity to attend a holiday club and receive a nutritious meal. Therefore, please only book your child/ren onto the days they can attend.

If a child doesn’t attend two or more booked sessions over any holiday period and their place isn’t cancelled in advance, this will result in all of their other bookings being cancelled for the remainder of the holiday. This will enable other child/ren to be offered the place(s).

To cancel a booked session, use the EEQU booking system.

Just themselves, a smile (hopefully!), and appropriate clothing for the activity.

If the activity is outdoors, please remember to bring a waterproof coat. If for some reason your activity is cancelled due to wet weather, the activity provider will endeavour to contact you at the earliest opportunity to let you know.

Yes, they will. A healthy meal will be provided each day of the activity.

If your child has a food allergy or special dietary requirement, this information will be collected when you register on the booking system.

We invited applications from activity providers across the county who were able to meet the strict HAF criteria. However, as you know, we live in a very rural county, which means there will be limitations as to where the programme will operate. So, unfortunately, there may not be a scheme in every town.

We would encourage you to make your own way to the activity, but if you require assistance with transport, please speak to your provider.

If you have any queries, please email haf@devon.gov.uk.

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