FAQs & Contact Us

The Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) programme, known locally in Derbyshire as ‘It’s About Me’, provides healthy meals, enriching activities and free childcare places to children from low-income families, benefiting their health, wellbeing and learning.

Find out more.

The It’s About Me holiday clubs are available during the spring, summer and winter holidays (excludes bank holidays and weekends).

SPRING
Bookings Open: Monday 9th March 2026
Holiday Clubs: Monday 30th March- Friday 10th April 202

SUMMER
Bookings Open: Monday 29th June 2026
Holiday Clubs: Thursday 23rd July – Friday 4th September 2026

WINTER
Bookings Open: Monday 30th November 2026
Holiday Clubs: Monday 21st December- Thursday 31st December 2026

*All dates exclude bank holidays and weekends.

No, It’s About Me holiday clubs are not currently available during half-terms.

Children and young people are eligible to attend holiday clubs for up to 4 sessions during the spring and winter school holidays and up to 16 sessions during the summer holidays.

Please do not book ‘back-up’ spaces at multiple holiday clubs, as this prevents other families from being able to access funded holiday club spaces.

Yes, all It’s About Me holiday clubs include a healthy meal. Please ensure your child’s dietary requirements are included on your child’s booking profile.

The It’s About Me programme is primarily for children in primary or secondary school who receive benefits-related free school meals. View Eligibility Criteria.

Your eligibility code will be sent to you by your child’s school, if you haven’t received your code, please contact your child’s school.

Alternatively, you can contact with Derbyshire County Council directly by email: HAF.enquiries@derbyshire.gov.uk

It’s About Me works with a wide range of providers that specialise in delivering activities for eligible children and young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND). Holiday clubs that are suitable for children and young people with SEND will clearly indicate this within their club description.

Before booking, we encourage contacting the holiday club to discuss your child’s needs so they can help provide a positive and enjoyable experience.

Alternatively, if you are looking for further support, please visit Special Educational Needs and Disabilities Service for more information.

Most home-schooled children are not eligible for benefits-related free school meals and therefore may not eligible for free places at funded holiday clubs.

There are some instances where your home-schooled child/ children may be eligible, if you wish to discuss this please make contact with Derbyshire County Council directly by email: HAF.enquiries@derbyshire.gov.uk

Alternatively, many of our It’s About Me holiday clubs offer paid for places, please contact the holiday club directly to enquire.

The It’s About Me programme funding is primarily for school aged children from reception to year 11 (inclusive) who receive benefits- related Free School Meals.

We accept referrals from schools, social workers and other professionals working directly with children, young people and families across Derbyshire via email on HAF.Enquiries@derbyshire.gov.uk

Many of our It’s About Me holiday clubs also offer paid holiday club spaces. Please contact the holiday club directly to enquire.

Holiday Clubs can be booked through our website or by contacting the holiday club directly. Follow our How to Book Guide for more information.

You will need your Free School Meal (FSM)/ It’s About Me (IAM)/ Holiday Activity and Food (HAF) code from your child’s school to book.

Your eligibility code will be sent to you by your child’s school, if you haven’t received your code, please contact your child’s school.

Alternatively, you can contact with Derbyshire County Council directly by email: HAF.enquiries@derbyshire.gov.uk

SPRING
Bookings Open: Monday 9th March 2026
Holiday Clubs: Monday 30th March- Friday 10th April 2026

SUMMER
Bookings Open: Monday 29th June 2026
Holiday Clubs: Thursday 23rd July – Friday 4th September 2026

WINTER
Bookings Open: Monday 30th November 2026
Holiday Clubs: Monday 21st December- Thursday 31st December 2026

Please cancel any sessions you have booked and can no longer attend. We have limited places. Sessions which are booked and not attended, incur a cost to the programme and can stop other eligible families from accessing the provision.

Subscribe to the It’s About Me Newsletter. As well as updates from the programme, we also share links to free/ affordable resources, information and opportunities available to families across Derbyshire.

A limited number of Food boxes are available during the winter holiday on a first-come, first-served basis. Bookings for the Food Boxes will be announced through our newsletter. 

To complement our face-to-face holiday clubs, we offer a limited number of at-home Activity Packs for Primary and Secondary-aged children during each holiday period. The Activity Packs are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Bookings for the Activity Packs will be announced through our newsletter.