Thousands of lower-income families across North Yorkshire will continue receiving support during school holidays after a new three-year agreement was confirmed for the FEAST programme.
North Yorkshire Council has announced that North Yorkshire Together will continue delivering the county’s Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) programme until June 2029 following renewed Government funding from the Department for Education.
FEAST provides free nutritious meals, activities and learning opportunities for children aged five to 16 from financially vulnerable households during school holidays.
Since launching in 2021, the programme has served more than 200,000 free healthy meals to children across the county, while demand has grown significantly, with available spaces increasing by 80 per cent between 2021 and 2024.
Figures released by the council also show that 98 per cent of children attending FEAST activities between 2023 and 2025 said they would “come again”.
North Yorkshire Council’s executive member for corporate services, Cllr Heather Phillips, said the programme had become a “lifeline” for many families.
She said: “FEAST has become a lifeline for many families across North Yorkshire and we are delighted to confirm its continuation for another three years.
“The statistics shows just how vital this programme is – keeping children active, engaged and well nourished during the school holidays, while offering real value for money for our communities.”
The programme is coordinated by North Yorkshire Together, a partnership involving North Yorkshire Sport, North Yorkshire Youth and Rural Arts.
The organisation has also appointed a new leader, Laura Ward, who joins with more than 20 years of experience in social care and leadership roles at Safe and Sound Homes and City of York Council.
Ms Ward said: “The figures speak powerfully about its impact on the families we support, and I am looking forward to building on that strong foundation with our partners.”
During the Easter holidays alone, 43 providers delivered almost 10,000 funded places across 75 activities, including sports, outdoor adventures, dance, computer programming and animal care.
More about the FEAST holiday programme can be found at: www.northyorkshiretogether.co.uk/FEAST
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