I hope parents and grandparents have now recovered from the summer holidays!
For too many local families, the long break can be a real struggle. Childcare is hard to find and often too expensive, routines are disrupted, and the cost of keeping children fed and entertained every day quickly adds up. That’s why I’m so pleased the Labour government has confirmed over £600 million to extend the Holiday Activities and Food programme for the next three years.
These Holiday Activity and Food (HAF) clubs have been a lifeline here in West Cumbria. They offer children healthy meals alongside sports, games, and creative activities. I’ve seen first-hand the difference they make: kids discovering new hobbies, making friends, and enjoying the kind of carefree summer every child deserves. Parents tell me how much the clubs ease the pressure too, saving around £300 a year on food and childcare costs.
Until now, funding for HAF was only confirmed year by year, leaving parents and providers uncertain about the future. By putting the programme on a three-year footing, we’re giving families and local organisations the certainty they’ve long needed. It means clubs can plan ahead, expand what they offer, and reach even more children who benefit most.
This investment is part of Labour’s wider Best Start package – our plan to ease pressure on families and give every child the strongest possible foundation. That includes free breakfast clubs in every primary school, expanded access to free school meals, new family hubs in communities, and 30 hours of funded childcare for working parents. Taken together, these reforms are about building a system that works all year round, not just during term time.
I also want to pay tribute to the team from Cumberland Council, who have done a fantastic job delivering the Holiday Activities and Food programme locally. Their hard work means hundreds of children across West Cumbria have had access to healthy meals and fun, enriching activities right through the school holidays. The council has also shown real commitment to tackling child poverty by expanding access to free school meals through auto enrolment, ensuring that no child misses out on good food during term time either. And Family Hubs are providing vital support to local children and young people and their families. Their dedication is making a real difference for families here in West Cumbria.
For me, this is about fairness. In the past, too often how well a child did depended on how well off their family was. We are changing that. By investing in HAF and the wider Best Start offer, we’re supporting parents, tackling child poverty, and ensuring children in West Cumbria grow up healthy, happy, and ready to thrive.
With this funding secured, families here can look ahead to the holidays with confidence, not anxiety. And that, I believe, is a change worth celebrating.
Josh MacAlister MP 