Creating space at the table for every young person

Food is a fundamental part of Niyyah’s Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) programme. Rather than being viewed simply as a meal provided alongside activities, food is embedded at the heart of the programme as a way of creating connection, building relationships and responding to the wider needs of children and families.

Niyyah’s food promise is simple: every young person attending the programme is offered welcoming, nourishing food that is freely available and helps create access to activities, relationships and new experiences.

Over time, this approach has enabled Niyyah to build stronger relationships with families. These relationships have helped staff develop a better understanding of the challenges families face, including food insecurity and have created opportunities to offer additional support beyond the HAF holiday periods.

Food without barriers

Breakfast is always available to every young person, regardless of what time of day it is or what time they arrive.

This flexible approach reflects the different journeys, needs and routines of children and families. Breakfast is offered calmly and without fuss. A child may need a full plate, a small top-up, or simply some time to settle before eating. There is no expectation that children need to explain why they are hungry or why they need more food.

Having food available throughout the morning means that no child has to begin an activity feeling hungry. It also gives staff an opportunity to welcome children, check in with them and understand how they are feeling from the moment they arrive.

This approach is particularly important for families and cultures where asking for food, or asking for more food, may not feel comfortable or appropriate. By making food freely available, Niyyah removes the need for children to ask and provides dignity and choice while respecting family values.

Food creates connection

Food has become much more than a practical part of the HAF offer. It creates opportunities for genuine relationships to develop.

Sitting together to eat provides a natural space for conversation and connection. Children, young people, families, volunteers and staff share a common experience around the table. These moments can be especially valuable during busy programme days, creating opportunities for people to slow down, talk and feel part of a community.

There is a strong recognition at Niyyah that social cohesion can be built through these simple shared moments.

A meal can create a sense of belonging. Sitting together, sharing conversation, learning table manners, trying something new and enjoying food together all contribute to young people feeling that they have a place at Niyyah’s table.

Bringing joy and curiosity through food

Niyyah aims to bring joy through food. The organisation describes itself as being “big feeders”, with the enjoyment of hot, cooked food sitting alongside opportunities for children to explore food for themselves.

Through Hakuna Fruitata activities, children have opportunities to explore ingredients, prepare dishes and learn where food comes from. These sessions develop practical food skills while also creating opportunities for creativity, teamwork and discovery.

Children learn to measure ingredients, follow instructions and work together to create something. They are encouraged to handle, smell and taste fresh ingredients, compare different foods and develop confidence at their own pace.

This is particularly important for children with sensory needs or those who may have had limited experiences of different foods. There is no pressure to try everything. Instead, children are given opportunities to become curious, explore and build familiarity in a safe and supportive environment.

Food becomes a way of learning, but also a way of building confidence.

A food offer that responds to need

Over years of HAF delivery, Niyyah has continued to develop and embed different elements of food provision into its programme. The offer now includes:

• A daily breakfast offer, available regardless of arrival time.
• Freely available fresh fruit and vegetables throughout the day.
• A nutritious, hot cooked meal.
• Opportunities to explore food through cooking and food-based activities.
• Practical food skills and opportunities to learn about ingredients and where food comes from.
• A welcoming environment where children can eat without stigma or judgement.

The impact of this approach has extended beyond the children attending HAF sessions. Through the relationships developed with families and an increased understanding of the pressures they experience, Niyyah recognised that support was needed beyond the school holidays.

As a result, Niyyah has developed a more regular food pantry offer, enabling families to access support during school term time and long after the HAF holiday periods have ended.

This represents an important shift from providing food as part of a holiday programme to developing a more sustained response to food insecurity within the community.

Extending the impact throughout the year

The same principles continue through Niyyah’s weekly Thursday youth club for teenagers, where food remains a core element of the programme.

Young people have opportunities to cook, bake, experiment with new ingredients and experience the enjoyment that food can bring. These sessions provide continuity throughout the year and allow the relationships and confidence developed during HAF to continue to grow.

Food becomes a consistent thread running through Niyyah’s wider offer, connecting holiday provision, youth work, practical learning and family support.

The impact

Having colourful, nutritious and wholesome food available makes a positive difference to the experience of the whole day.

For children and young people, it means they can participate without the distraction or discomfort of hunger. For families, it provides practical support and a welcoming environment where they can build trusted relationships with staff. For volunteers and staff, shared meals create opportunities to connect with young people in a more informal and meaningful way.

Most importantly, food creates a shared moment.

Around Niyyah’s table, different ages, backgrounds and experiences come together. Children learn, talk, laugh, try new things and develop confidence. Families feel welcomed. Staff gain a deeper understanding of the people they are supporting.

What began as a fundamental part of the HAF offer has developed into something much broader: a way of building relationships, reducing barriers, responding to food insecurity and creating a genuine sense of belonging.

At Niyyah, everyone has a place at the table. Read their Impact Report.