Local Meal Delivery HAF Programmes in Manchester

What is the HAF Programme?

The HAF programme is a scheme funded by the Government in England to help keep kids safe and fed during the long school holiday, Easter, Summer and Christmas.

It provides access to:

  • Healthy, tasty and nutritious meals
  • Fun physical activities
  • Engaging workshops and classes
  • Social and wellbeing support

It’s aimed at children who need it most those from low income households, and those eligible to receive free school meals, though extra support may also be available for kids with SEND or from vulnerable backgrounds

HAF Eligibility in Manchester

HAF programmes are available for school kids from Reception to year 11 (ages 4-16). Some local authorities may also open it up to kids with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), or to families who need some extra holiday support.

You can access HAF places by talking to your child’s school, Manchester City Council or a local approved provider. Often you’ll need a HAF code or voucher to confirm you’re eligible and get a place.

How Schools Get HAF Funding

Schools and organisations delivering HAF programmes get their funding from their local authority, which is handed down from the Department for Education. To qualify, you need to show you can deliver a minimum of 4 hours of activity per day, 4 days a week, plus healthy meals that meet government standards and education and enrichment activities.

Funding is usually provided on a per-child, per day basis, and helps cover costs like food, staffing and programme delivery.

Key Steps for HAF Funding
To get the funding, providers need to demonstrate they can do a few key things:

  • At least 4 hours of activity per day
  • 4 days a week (usually 16 days in summer and 4 days in smaller holidays)
  • Healthy meals that meet government standards
  • Educational and enrichment activities

HAF Funding is usually provided on a per-child, per-day basis, and helps cover costs like food, staffing and programme delivery. Schools and organisations can apply directly to Manchester City Council’s HAF coordinator, or work with an approved delivery partner.

We deliver meals to the following areas:

PostcodesCoverage
M1Piccadilly, Northern Quarter, and Market Street
M2Deansgate, King Street, and the central business district.
M3Castlefield, Deansgate, and parts of the City Centre, extending across the border into Salford (including Blackfriars and Greengate).
M4Ancoats, the Northern Quarter, Shudehill, Strangeways, and the area around the Manchester Arndale
M8Cheetham Hill and Crumpsall
M9Harpurhey, Blackley, and Higher Blackley
M11Clayton, Openshaw, Beswick
M12Ardwick, Longsight, Chorlton-on-Medlock
M13Ardwick, Longsight, and Chorlton-on-Medlock
M14Fallowfield, Moss Side, Ladybarn, Rusholme, Victoria Park, Longsight
M15Hulme, Manchester Science Park, Old Trafford
PostcodesCoverage
M16Firswood, Old Trafford, Whalley Range, Moss Side
M19Levenshulme, Burnage
M20Didsbury, Withington
M21Chorlton-cum-Hardy, Barlow Moor
M22Wythenshawe, Northenden, Sharston Industrial Area
M23Baguley, Brooklands, Roundthorn Industrial Estate
M25Prestwich, Sedgley Park, Simister
M26Radcliffe and the village of Stoneclough
M32Central Stretford and parts of Old Trafford
M33Sale, Brooklands
M34Denton, Audenshaw
M35Failsworth
M41Urmston, Davyhulme, Flixton, Trafford Park
M43Droylsden
M45Whitefield, Bury

Supporting External HAF Providers

We work closely with a wide range of organisations delivering Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) programmes across Manchester, providing reliable hot and cold meal delivery services tailored to children’s needs.

  • Schools
  • After School Clubs
  • Sports Clubs
  • Community Centres
  • Charities
  • Churches

How Our Meal Delivery HAF Programme Works

Our HAF meal service is designed to help schools, holiday clubs, sports clubs and community organisations across Greater Manchester. We offer flexible meal solutions, including both hot and chilled options, to suit different delivery environments and schedules.

Our Ordering Meals Process:
Our website is designed to make it easy for you to order the food you need:

  • Place an order online or give us a ring
  • Choose from a range of child-friendly menus
  • Select the delivery dates and quantities you need
  • Let us know about any dietary requirements or special requests in advance
  • Get support with menu planning if you need it from our team

This flexible ordering system means you can book one-off meals or ongoing programme support.

Delivery Schedules

  • Deliveries are available 7 days a week, which is perfect for holiday clubs or extended programmes
  • Meals are delivered within a set time window to give you consistency
  • Timings are sorted according to your session schedule – like when the lunch service is happening at schools or clubs
  • Being reliable and on time is key to keeping services running smoothly during the busy holiday activity fund (HAF) periods

Packaging Options (Hot vs Frozen)

  • Hot Meals: We deliver meals ready to serve at lunchtime, so you can just plate them up or serve them straight away. Perfect for schools or activity settings.
  • Chilled/Frozen Meals: We deliver these safely packaged so you can store them and reheat them when needed. Great for flexible serving times or when you’ve got multiple sessions going on at different times.

Why Schools Need a Trustworthy Meal Delivery Partner

When you’re running holiday clubs, breakfast clubs, after-school clubs, or HAF programmes, you need a reliable partner to make sure the food is healthy, nutritious and child-friendly. At Icare Cuisine, we take care of all that, so you don’t have to. We help reduce your workload, save staff time and give you peace of mind.

Kids get healthy and nutritious meals that support their concentration, energy levels and overall wellbeing. Staff save valuable time and reduce stress during afterschool clubs and the summer school holidays, while parents gain confidence that their kids are eating well.

Our delivery service can cater for groups of all sizes, offering both hot and chilled meals, and we can accommodate short-notice orders for schools in Manchester.

  • Providing healthy meals for kids doesn’t have to be a hassle.
  • Icare Cuisine offers a trusted, local solution for afterschool clubs, holiday programmes and HAF sessions, combining convenience, nutrition and quick delivery.
  • You can focus on creating enriching environments knowing every meal is supporting the programme aims and meets the kids’ needs.

Benefits of Choosing a Local Meal Delivery Provider

Partnering with Icare Cuisine, means you get the benefits of:

  • Reliable, on-time meal delivery
  • Reduced workload for school staff
  • Meeting the School Food Standards
  • Health Eating Menus designed for Kids
  • Hot or Cold meals options
  • We can handle big groups or small ones with ease
  • Dont know how to deal with dietary issues or allergens? Give us a call for help?

Why Choose ICare Cuisine?

We have been providing meals on wheels for over 20 years! With over 200 menus to choose from , whether you want hot , cold or even frozen meals.All our meals meet School Food Standards.

  • We’ve got over 20 years of experience delivering meals and supporting customers across the UK
  • We offer a massive choice of over 200 meals, including hot meals, frozen options and sandwiches to suit every taste
  • Kids love our meals which meet School Food Standards and achieve excellent Food Hygiene ratings
  • We’ve got flexible delivery options – hot meals ready to serve or chilled/frozen meals for later use
  • Our 7-day delivery service is ideal for schools, care settings and HAF programmes
  • Our simple and easy ordering process has support available when you need it
  • It can also help reduce costs associated with food prep, staffing and energy use

Book your HAF food delivery today.

If you are  a school or club in Manchester providing HAF programmes then we’re here to help you with the food. Get in touch with our team to:

  • Ask for a menu
  • Discuss your HAF programme requirements
  • Set up a plan that fits your project
  • Get a quote for your programme