Celebrating a Successful Summer of HAF Clubs

This summer, we were delighted to welcome children and families from across Bradford to our HAF Summer Clubs, and what a summer it was! Over five weeks, we welcomed more than 350 children, offering them the chance to get active, be creative, make friends, and most importantly, have fun.

Our sports sessions were a real highlight, giving children plenty of opportunities to burn off energy and build confidence. From football matches that brought out teamwork and skill, to the ever-popular dodgeball (a firm favourite every year!), the children were always on the move. Basketball sessions were full of fast-paced fun, while our athletics sessions saw children taking part in their very own Mini Olympics.

Alongside sport, our media sessions gave children the chance to explore new skills and unleash their creativity using iPads. They stepped into the shoes of music producers, designed their own robots, learnt the basics of photography, and even became their own TV producers. The joy and pride they felt in creating something unique was inspiring to see.

No busy day would be complete without a nutritious meal, and we were lucky to have PikNik as our trusted caterer once again. Each day, they made and delivered around 70 healthy packed lunches, ensuring that every child had the fuel they needed to keep going. The lunches were a huge success and much appreciated by both children and parents.

The Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) Programme, funded by the Department for Education and supported locally by Bradford Council, helps families by providing free holiday club places for children who are eligible for benefits-related free school meals. The programme ensures that children have access to enriching activities, opportunities to learn new skills, and healthy meals during the school holidays. We are incredibly grateful to Bradford Council’s HAF scheme for enabling us to run these clubs and support so many families across the city.

This summer wouldn’t have been possible without the support of our host venues. We were proud to run clubs at five schools across Bradford as well as Woodside Community Village, and we are so thankful for the facilities and warm welcome we received at each one.

A huge thank you must also go to our dedicated Junior Jam staff, who worked tirelessly to run sessions, deliver fun activities, and keep children safe throughout the summer. And of course, thank you to the families who signed their children

Overall, this summer was a huge success. From sports and media sessions to healthy lunches and new friendships, we are proud of everything the children achieved. We look forward to continuing our work with the HAF scheme and can’t wait to welcome even more families to our clubs in the future.

Jess - Lead Club Co-Ordinator