Celebrating success at the inaugural Devon HAF Celebration and Impact Awards

On Thursday 29th October, we were delighted to host the inaugural Devon HAF Celebration and Impact Awards at Westpoint Arena, bringing together more than 100 guests from across the programme to celebrate the fantastic work being delivered for children, young people and families throughout Devon.

The evening provided an opportunity to recognise the dedication, innovation and positive impact of our providers and partners, whilst showcasing the difference that the Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) Programme continues to make in communities across the county.

As well as celebrating achievements, the event offered valuable opportunities for networking, collaboration and connection, helping to strengthen relationships across the wider programme and spark new conversations about how we can continue to improve and develop HAF provision in the future.

The full list of award winners and highly commended recipients is now available on our website.

We would like to extend our sincere thanks to everyone who attended and contributed to making the evening such a success. In particular, we are grateful to Cllr Richard Jefferies and Cllr Graham Bell for kindly presenting the awards, and to Simon Niles and Neil Keen attending as senior representatives of Devon County Council, who demonstrated their support for the programme by joining us on the night.

We have already received some fantastic feedback from attendees, with many highlighting the value of coming together to celebrate successes, share experiences and build new connections. We would also like to thank the many parents, carers and members of the public who took the time to vote, submit nominations and share their experiences of the HAF Programme. Their feedback helped to showcase the real impact that HAF is having on children, young people and families across Devon, while ensuring that the achievements recognised through these awards reflected the voices of the communities we serve.

We will be reviewing all feedback received and are committed to using this to shape and enhance future events. As the first ever Devon HAF Celebration and Impact Awards, this event marks the beginning of what we hope will become a valued annual tradition. We look forward to building on its success, expanding the celebrations and creating even more opportunities to recognise excellence, share learning and celebrate the incredible contribution of HAF providers across Devon in the years ahead.

Congratulations once again to all our winners, highly commended recipients and nominees. Your commitment, passion and hard work are helping to create enriching experiences and positive outcomes for Devon’s children and families.