Helping Hertfordshire’s Children to have a HAPpy Christmas Holiday

Living Magazines Herts HAPpy Camps

Fully-funded holiday activity camps return for the Christmas break, giving eligible children and young people a chance to meet friends, learn new skills and enjoy nutritious food.

The HAPpy programme, funded by Hertfordshire County Council via the government’s Holiday Activity and Food programme and coordinated by Herts Sports Partnership and the Hertfordshire Community Foundation, is running more than 100 activity camps from 22 December 2022 until 4 January 2023 (selected days).

With over 10,000 free activity camp places available, eligible families are being encouraged to get their booking code from their school and reserve a place at a camp near them as soon as possible. Booking opened on Monday 21 November.

As part of its commitment to help residents manage the cost of living, Hertfordshire County Council provided funding for more than 4,300 children to attend free activity camps during the summer holidays. Additionally, 130 children recently arrived from Ukraine also attended the summer HAPpy Camps, supporting Hertfordshire County Council’s commitment to integrate Ukrainian families into local schools and communities.

‘We’re here to help families this winter,’ said Councillor Fiona Thomson, Executive Member for Children, Young People and Families at Hertfordshire County Council, who visited several of the camps running earlier this year. ‘We’re working together with partners to make sure that children and young people in Hertfordshire can have fun, making new friends and learning new skills – whilst getting a hot meal in a warm, welcoming space this winter.’

Eligible families should already have been given their booking code from their school. They can book their free place at a camp near them by visiting sportinherts.org.uk/booking. Parents/carers who have not received the code should contact their school office or email haf@herts.ac.uk.

Hertfordshire County Council also provides food vouchers during holiday periods to eligible families which are distributed through schools.

The council has dedicated advice and support for those who need it this winter. Get in touch with HertsHelp on 0300 123 4044 to find out what support is there for you. For more information, visit hertfordshire.gov.uk/hereforyou.