Deadline: 01-May-2026
The School Holiday Activity Fund (SHAF) provides grants of up to £5,000 to organisations delivering accessible, engaging, and multi-day holiday programmes for children and young people in London. The fund prioritises activities that are free or low-cost, non-residential, and run during school holidays including half-term breaks, Easter, Christmas, and summer.
Overview
The School Holiday Activity Fund (SHAF) supports organisations that deliver fun and inclusive programmes for children and young people during school holidays. The fund aims to ensure that all participants, regardless of background, can access meaningful, structured activities that promote social engagement, creativity, and physical activity. The programme covers multiple school holidays over a 12-month period, allowing sustained delivery rather than one-off events.
Focus Areas
SHAF prioritises activities that provide fun, engaging, and supportive environments for children and young people, are free or low-cost to participants, run as non-residential programmes over multiple days, and include a variety of formats, such as arts and cultural activities, sports projects, family activities, holiday drop-in sessions, and trips within London (excluding trips abroad). The fund does not support programmes focused on tuition or education catch-up.
Funding Details
Maximum grant: £5,000 per organisation. Use of funds: Cover costs such as sessional staff, transport, venue hire, and other direct project expenses. Duration: Funds may be applied across multiple school holidays within a 12-month period. Priority is given to organisations with annual income under £1 million, those not receiving a SHAF grant for three consecutive years, and activities delivered over multiple days rather than standalone events.
Eligibility Criteria
Eligible applicants include registered charities, special schools or alternative provision settings based in the Beneficial Area, and charities delivering programmes within mainstream school settings. Ineligible applicants include mainstream schools and their associated PTAs or school charities, and organisations already receiving SHAF funding for the same purpose.
How to Apply
Confirm your organisation meets eligibility criteria. Prepare a project plan including objectives, target age group, holiday periods covered, and projected outcomes. Create a budget detailing how the grant will cover running costs such as staff, venue, transport, and materials. Submit your application via the official SHAF application process, ensuring the fund is not duplicating other grants. Demonstrate how your activities are inclusive, multi-day, and accessible to children from all backgrounds.
FAQs
Q1: Who can apply for SHAF? A: Registered charities, special schools, alternative provision settings, and charities delivering programmes in mainstream school settings based in the Beneficial Area.
Q2: How much funding is available? A: Up to £5,000 per organisation per year.
Q3: What activities are eligible? A: Multi-day, non-residential activities for children and young people, such as arts, sports, family activities, drop-ins, and trips within London. Education catch-up or tuition is not eligible.
Q4: Can funds be used for staff and venue costs? A: Yes, the grant may cover sessional staff, transport, venue hire, and other direct project expenses.
Q5: Are priority groups considered? A: Yes, priority is given to organisations with income under £1 million, those not funded for three consecutive years, and projects running over multiple days.
Q6: Can mainstream schools apply? A: No, but charities delivering activities within mainstream schools can apply.
Q7: Can SHAF funds be used for overseas trips? A: No, only activities and trips within London are eligible.
Conclusion
The School Holiday Activity Fund (SHAF) ensures that children and young people in London have access to engaging, safe, and inclusive holiday programmes. By prioritising multi-day, low-cost activities, SHAF strengthens community participation, supports creativity, and enhances wellbeing during school holidays. Organisations that demonstrate sustained delivery, inclusivity, and accessibility are best positioned to maximise the impact of this fund.
For more information, visit John Lyon’s Charity.
