Easter HAF at Hazlehurst Studios

This Easter, Hazlehurst Studios had the pleasure of welcoming back the Holiday Activity Fund (HAF) programme, bringing a burst of creativity, learning, and fun to young people in our community. Here’s a look at how the Easter HAF sessions unfolded and what made them so special!

What is HAF?

For those new to the HAF programme, it’s an initiative that provides free holiday activities and meals for children, particularly those who are eligible for free school meals. It’s a vital service, offering young people not only a chance to learn new skills but also a safe, inclusive environment to socialise and have fun. At Hazlehurst Studios, we’ve been proud to offer a space where creativity meets community, with activities that give young people the chance to explore their talents.

What Was New This Time?

This Easter, we trialled a new age range, welcoming 7-10-year-olds to join in the fun! We were thrilled to partner with All Saints Primary School, which gave us the opportunity to work with fresh faces and introduce them to the wonderful world of creative activities. It can be daunting for young people to step into a new environment, but we were so proud of how quickly everyone settled in and formed connections. What a fantastic group of young people – we can’t wait to work with them again!

The sessions this time were half-day activities, offering three pottery painting sessions led by the brilliant Courtney and one special session with our great friend Naomi from Animal Teach. The young people really enjoyed expressing themselves through the pottery and learning about animals in Naomi’s interactive session.

Continuing with Our 11-16 Year Olds

We were also excited to welcome back our 11-16-year-old group – many familiar faces from our Summer HAF programme returned, and it was amazing to see friendships develop. We’ve worked hard to create a special space at Hazlehurst Studios, where young people feel comfortable and supported, and it’s truly heartwarming to see how much our young people have grown over time.

In addition to the usual activities, we mixed things up this time with new art activities. Toni and Sas collaborated to introduce the world of Procreate and sticker creation, which led to magnets and window clings too! Sas was new to HAF, but we can already tell that the young people loved her energy and creativity, and they’re eager for her to return next time.

Pottery with Courtney

The pottery sessions with Courtney were a huge hit! The young people got to paint and design their pottery pieces, which will now be fired in Courtney’s kiln. They’ll be able to pick them up at our upcoming Open Day on the 25th of April, or we can arrange for them to be delivered. It’s always exciting to see the incredible creations they come up with!

Animal Teach with Naomi

Naomi from Animal Teach returned this Easter, giving young people the unique opportunity to meet and engage with animals. She taught them about animal adaptations and how to care for them. It’s always a fun and educational experience when Naomi brings her animals, and it’s something the young people always look forward to.

Leather Craft with Nick

Nick was back, inspiring the young people to create beautiful pieces from leather using vintage hand-cranked sewing machines. Watching the young people’s creativity unfold as they crafted their own designs was truly incredible – the skills they’re developing are impressive!

Dungeons & Dragons with Chris (Dawnstar Gaming)

Of course, we couldn’t have a HAF session without our Dungeon Master, Chris from Dawnstar Gaming! This time, Chris was faced with the challenge of a different quest each day, rather than the usual multi-day campaign. It was exciting to see how the young adventurers embraced the challenge and worked together to solve puzzles and complete quests.

The first meeting with Chris last year sparked our initial application for HAF, and it’s been amazing to see the programme grow since then. We’re proud to offer a unique and inclusive space for young people to try something different from the usual activity clubs. We’re committed to making these sessions as accessible as possible for everyone, including those with SEN or other accessibility needs.

Our Amazing Helpers

As always, each session had a fantastic team of helpers. We’re incredibly grateful for our volunteers, who bring their energy, enthusiasm, and support to every session. For those with specific needs, we make sure to provide extra support from specialists, ensuring that every young person can participate and enjoy the experience.

We’re excited to see our young person programme continue to develop and grow, and while our funding is currently project-based, we’re working hard to secure more consistent, permanent options in the future.

A Special Thank You to Quigley's

We’d also like to extend a thank you to Quigley's for providing the delicious lunches and fresh fruit throughout the Easter HAF project. Their support made sure that the young people had the energy to dive into all the creative activities and kept everyone nourished and happy. We really appreciate your help in making this programme a success!

A Heartfelt Thank You to Our Funders

A big thank you goes to HAF via Halton Borough Council and the entire Holiday Activity Fund team for making this programme possible. Your support means so much to us and the young people we serve. We’d also like to offer a special thank you to John Bucknall, who is leaving after five years of working on the HAF project. John, your dedication and commitment to the success of HAF have been truly appreciated. You’ve played a huge role in shaping this initiative, and we are grateful for everything you’ve done. We wish you all the best in your next chapter!

Feedback from the Young People

Here’s some feedback from the young people who attended the Easter HAF sessions:

“It's been very fun and really supportive! I'm super happy with how my plate turned out”– M

“It was good, I would do this again!" - K aged 7

“I liked every single bit, No critiques".

"I enjoyed my time here. Wouldn't change anything. All staff are lovely"

We’re so grateful for their feedback and thrilled to see how much the young people enjoyed the activities.

What’s Next?

If you want to stay updated on future HAF events and what’s coming up at Hazlehurst Studios, be sure to sign up for our young person mailing list (send us a message to be added!).

We can’t wait to welcome even more young people into our creative community, and we look forward to seeing where the next HAF programme will take us.